Independence Day - September 18th
What is Chile’s Independence Day?
Chileans celebrate their independence on the 18th of September. Their
road to independence from Spain started on that date in 1810. Although
they would have to fight for eight more years to earn their total
freedom, Chile celebrates the 18th of 1810 with great fanfare. Chile
officially proclaimed independence February 12, 1818.
The 18th, or "dieciocho," is celebrated during a week full of fiestas
patrias. This includes parades, dances, drinking, eating traditional
Chilean food, and music. Parades include huasos, the traditional Chilean
cowboys, music, and displays of national pride.
Parades include huasos, the traditional Chilean cowboys, music, and
displays of national pride.
Where do they celebrate dieciocho?
Much of the celebrations occur in ramadas (see picture below), temporary open buildings
with thatched roofs traditionally made from tree branches. Ramadas feature a dance
floor, music, and tables to eat. Fondas, or refreshment stands, offer a wide variety of
Chilean foods including empanadas, anticuchos (shish kabobs), and more.
During this week, you’ll find ramadas and fondas appearing throughout the country.
Fondas are often found in open, outdoor areas that could be compared to fairgrounds or
carnivals set apart for partying during the independence day celebrations.
Ramada literally translates to a tree branch. As you can see in the following picture,
temporary structures are made with roofs of tree branches covering a dance floor or
tables for eating.
The ramadas and fondas are decorated with Chilean flags everywhere: table covers,
streamers, banners, etc.
The fondas include refreshment and food stands where you’ll find traditional Chilean
foods and the typical staples of the fiestas patrias: antichuchos, empanadas, and chicha.
These areas typically fill up with people during the evenings of the week of September
18th and are an annual tradition.
What is the food in Chile like?
Breakfast
The first meal of the day is small and usually consists of bread with assorted
toppings and coffee or tea. Bread is bought fresh daily usually from a corner
bakery, shop, or even a bread salesman that travels around the neighborhood.
Chileans will top their bread with jelly or a delicious caramel-like topping called
manjar.
Lunch
The largest meal of the day is usually lunch. This will consist of traditional Chilean
dishes like cazuela (a stew), pastel de choclo (similar to shepard pie), or a wide
variety of bean dishes. In rural areas, the lunch hour usually means businesses will
close. Although this is traditionally for taking a siesta, I don't think the majority
of people actually sleep during this time.
Once (pronounced own-say)
"Once" is a light meal that is eaten between 4 and 7 in the afternoon. Often times
this is a repeat of breakfast; with bread and sandwich toppings with some tea or
coffee.
Dinner
Dinner comes in the late evening and will be the size of lunch with traditional
Chilean food. If most in the household work all day, dinner for them will be the
largest meal.
Food is an important piece of daily life in Chile.
What type of dance do they do?
There are also frequent dance competitions with the national dance, la cueca,
being the most popular.
The cueca is traditionally danced by a male and a female. There are specific steps
(sliding and stamping) and movements in circles and semicircles. These movements
change according to the three parts of the sung cueca, so the dancers’ steps have
to coincide with each section of the song.
The man and woman can join arms and talk in the preliminary promenade before
the singing begins, as well as when the singers have finished. However, during the
dance, they can’t speak, touch each other, or take their eyes off each other,
except when they make turns.
Both dancers carry handkerchiefs, which act as silent but expressively integral
members of the dance. The handkerchief conveys festivity and, since the cueca is
basically a dance of courtship, it acts as the “language” of the people who are
dancing. The woman keeps her handkerchief near her face or at shoulder level.
The man can wave his handkerchief over his head, at waist level, or around the
woman’s feet. Occasionally the dancers hold their handkerchiefs with both hands.
What are huasos? What do they do? What do they wear?
Rodeos in their "medialuna" arenas are common in September and showcase the
traditional Chilean huaso.
Over the years, the traditional hauso attire has evolved into a dress version and
everyday working outfit. Both consist of the hat loose fitting pants, usually
striped, a short jacket, fringed leather boots, and the chamanta, a short multicolored blanket, over the shoulders, also called a manta or a poncho. A
distinguishing feature is the traditional red sash worn around the waist, with the
fringed ends over the left hip. For ceremonial events, the huaso uses elaborately
carve stirrups, called Estribos in wood, leather or brass and decorated spurs, like
these Espuelas de Plata.