Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Gaucho Festivals
Many towns and cities in the Argentinian
interior celebrate their local gaucho and farming
heritage with lively parades, folk music concerts,
and spectacular equestrian shows. The biggest
fiesta in the country is the Día de la Tradición, a
festive extravaganza held every November,
especially in San Antonio de Areco
(see p149)
.
A gaucho in parade garb
and his
smartly dressed
china
(female partner)
perform a country dance known as the
chacarera
. Originating in the northwest of
Argentina, it is a dance of lively rhythms
and pantomimic play.
Dancers from the
northwest
of the
country perform a high-
spirited
carnavalito
(circle
dance) during La Rural
(see p47),
the annual
agricultural fair held in
August in Buenos Aires
.
Here, people celebrate
the culture and traditions
of the country in the
heart of the bustling city.
Gaucho Gear
Gauchos don the full Moorish-influenced
costume only for important fiestas.
However, their everyday workclothes
usually contain a few elements of
traditional dress.
The poncho
is a
simple garment
worn usually to
keep
warm.
The
boina
is a
traditional
Basque hat.
Facones
are handy for cutting rope,
vegetation, and of course meat;
they can also be used as weapons.
The
rastro
is a metal belt
decorated with equestrian
or patriotic symbols.
Bombachas
are
loose trousers
that have a hint
of the Arabian
about them.
The legend of Juan Moreira
An outlaw and local folk hero,
Juan Moreira is an important
figure in Argentina's gaucho
history. He fought against the
injustice meted out to gauchos
as the military advanced across
the country's interior during
the late 19th century. The plains
were fenced off and handed
out to Creole aristocrats, and
many gauchos were forced
into employment as poorly
paid peons and foot soldiers
fighting in regional battles
between landowners. Moreira was murdered by the
authorities in 1874. In 1973, Argentinian director Leonard
Favio made a celebrated film in his honor.
Tough working
boots
are replaced
by
alpargatas drilles
(sandals) for leisure.
Poster of the ilm
Juan Moreira
Boleadoras
are heavy ball-lassos,
effective for capturing the wild
flightless rheas that inhabit the
Pampas region.
