November - Día de la Tradición, Argentina
ARGENTINA | Monday, 19 October 2009 | Views [386] | Comments [1]
Location: San Antonio de Areco, Argentina
Dates: the weekend of November 10th
Level of Participation: 3 – show up for the carnival scene
ready to eat, dance, and join in the gaucho culture
Description:
Día de la Tradición (Tradition Day) celebrates all that Argentineans are fiercely proud of: gaucho history and culture, asado and equestrian showmanship. This festival is held in honor of Jose Hernandez, an Argentinean poet who wrote famously about the daily life of the gauchos. While the holiday is celebrated around the country, San Antonio de Areco is considered the quintessential gaucho town, making it the star of the show and the place to be to celebrate the day of Argentinean tradition.
Kicking off the festival weekend is a stream of hundreds of men and boys
from around the country, clad in their gaucho finest, parading expertly-groomed
horses through the town square of San Antonio de Areco. Following the exhibition
are the solo riders, each masterfully controlling a group of wild horses, while
elaborate chariots filled with full-skirted girls, and a classic marching band
trail round out the procession. After the parade, the rest of weekend is filled
with horse races, shows, games, and folkloric dances - in a true spectacle of the
pampas lifestyle and Argentinean pride.
However, not to be overshadowed by the pomp and circumstance of the parade and
exhibition is the other main element of the festival – the food. The asado, or huge
feast of mouth-watering barbequed beef, grilled chorizo and other traditional
Argentine treats, caters to both the national customs and international palettes.
In the evenings, along with the famous asado, the Parque Criollo serves up lively
music, dancing and red wine – only reaching full force well past the midnight hour.
At this indulgent fiesta, a healthy appetite for gaucho culture as well as
Argentinean cuisine will go a long way.
Essentials: Book early as accommodation in San Antonio de Areco is a bit scarce;
however, the local tourism office can set you up a homestay with a local Argentinean
family if you’re looking for a more authentic experience.
Local Attractions: The charm of San Antonio de Areco is its calm contrast to the bustle of
nearby Buenos Aires.
Wander the cobblestone streets, sip mate and dip into the silversmiths and
leather craft workshops to see the gaucho arts in progress.
More Info: Contact the tourism office of San Antonio de Areco by email or visit Welcome
Argentina for more event details.
Have you been amongst the festival action?
Share your festival photos with our Worldnomads.com
Flickr group.
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Hungry for more World Festival info?
Check out Lonely Planet's book - A Year of Festivals;
Tags: argentina, gaucho, culture, asado, buenos aires, world festivals
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