CULTURE OF ARGENTINA: TRADITIONS, CUSTOMS, GASTRONOMY, MUSIC, - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2024

The culture of Argentina is characterized by a marked European influence, as a result of the Spanish conquest and the migration of Italians who made this South American country their new home.

This mixture of Creole and European culture shaped the local gastronomy, music, architecture or religious fervor. In short, to its traditions, festivities and customs in general.

Buenos Aires

Source: pixabay.com

Argentina is a nation of sociable people, who give importance to work, but also to recreation, with a great passion for soccer and very proud of such distinctive elements of the country as its cuts of meat, gauchos, tango and mate.

Political conformation

Argentina is a decentralized federal state, made up of 23 provinces and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, as its capital. It has a democratic system that elects its president every four years, who can opt for reelection at the end of his term.

Origin of the nation's name

The name Argentina comes from the Latin argentum which means silver. By 1554 the term already appeared on the maps of the Portuguese Lopo Homem, who identified the region with the name terra argentea.

Historians point out that the idea of ​​linking Argentina with silver comes from the presence of deposits of this metal in the region at the time that European explorers arrived in these lands in 1516.

The three official names

Although it is not something usual, Argentina has three official names. These are: United Provinces of the Río de la Plata, Argentine Confederation and Argentine Republic, the latter being the most accepted form, only after Argentina or Argentina (more colloquial).

Custom

Mate

The consumption of mate, an infusion of Guaraní origin that is prepared with the leaves of the mate herb, is not only a typical drink but the social bond that unites Argentines.

There is no time to consume it, since it is taken throughout the day. It is a family custom that is inherited and is used by Argentines when socializing, to the point of taking it everywhere in thermos to always have it close.

It is consumed in a small container, which is also called mate, sucking the liquid through a bulb, a kind of metal straw with holes in the bottom that allows the liquid to pass through and not the herb.

Mate. Source: Jorge Alfonso

Wikimedia Commons

The roast

For Argentines it is usual to share their roasts every week with family and friends, which is what they call the traditional grilled meat. They taste it in different ways, while discussing politics, football or the economic situation of the country.

The closeness

Argentines are very affectionate people, who usually plant a kiss when they meet or greet each other. Even men who have a lot of confidence could also kiss each other.

Some foreigners complain that Argentines invade personal space by getting too close when engaging in conversation, but although this makes some uncomfortable, it is only the way they use to express themselves and make their opinion felt more strongly.

The gestures

Argentina is one of the countries in which it is most gesticulated. When the Argentine speaks, he does so with his whole body, printing in his body language the message he wants to send, full of the passion and intensity that characterizes him.

The custom of making frequent hand gestures when speaking is thought to come from Italian immigrants, who also used to wave their hands frequently to express more vehemently what they want to say.

The Argentine voseo

The way Argentines speak differs greatly from other Latin American countries due to the use of voseo or substitution of "you" for "vos" to communicate, also using more than five thousand terms and expressions that can only be understood by those who live in the country.

Voseo has almost replaced "you" or "you", but it is only used in situations of trust between the interlocutors.

Traditions

Football

There is no doubt that the most popular sport in Argentina is soccer, a discipline that to this day has filled millions of Argentine fans with pride.

They say that soccer in Argentina is not a sport, but rather a religion, which has been practiced since children are very young, both on makeshift fields on the street and on the country's most complete fields.

And it is that names like Diego Armando Maradona (1960) or Lionel Messi (1987) are reason for national pride, whose achievements have turned them into heroes of several generations; But contrary to what many might think, soccer is not officially the national sport.

The duck

The national sport is really the duck, an equestrian discipline made up of two teams of four riders who try to get hold of the duck, a ball with six handles, which must go through a ring to obtain points.

It is a sports discipline with more than four hundred years of history, since the gauchos (inhabitants of the Argentine plains) practiced it during the colonial era.

Historians claim that it is so named because in the past they killed a bird, usually a duck, which they placed in a piece of leather to use as a ball.

With the passage of time its regulations have undergone modifications such as the substitution of a bird for a ball, the use of a uniform and the inclusion of rules that guarantee the safety of the players.

Duck players

Source: ecolo.cancilleria.gob.ar

San Telmo Fair

Created in 1970, this fair brings together lovers of antiques who have the opportunity to go every Sunday to the San Telmo neighborhood in Buenos Aires to find treasures from the past.

This place is visited by an average of ten thousand people every Sunday, who take pleasure in patiently reviewing the particular objects through 270 stalls.

Christmas

The difference of the Argentine Christmas tradition, compared to other countries, begins with its climate, since in the month of December it is summer in the southern hemisphere. This gives Argentines a warm Christmas, strange for visitors from other latitudes.

But this does not affect the Christmas spirit of Argentina, a country that has adopted throughout its history such common international traditions as the Christmas tree, the garlands, the gift giving or the Christmas carols.

The presence of the so-called manger that represents the birth of Jesus of Nazareth is widespread throughout the country, both in its inanimate and living versions, and good food abounds in the company of family members, the rooster mass and good wishes.

Ring Run

It is an equestrian tradition from Europe that was later adopted by the gauchos and whose objective is to obtain a ring that hangs from a beam, attached to two wooden posts.

The ring run is usually played during carnival or other festive events and has a certain level of difficulty, as players must gallop towards the ring and try to remove it from the stake using a wand or twig no thicker than a pencil. common.

The winner usually takes a monetary prize and the excitement of those present.

Gastronomy

Argentine gastronomy is a combination of Creole, Spanish and Italian cuisine, whose fusion has allowed the creation of very popular dishes. It is especially famous for its cuts of meat, backed by a long livestock tradition that has become a distinctive feature of the country.

Chorizo ​​steak

It is one of the most requested options by Argentine diners, since it is a tender meat that is cut into thick pieces, very easy to taste.

Empty

On the contrary, this is a thinner cut, which includes the bone, much less tender on the palate, but with a very good flavor.

Creole sausage

This is the special complement in a barbecue. It can be accompanied with bread, to make the famous choripan or serve as a companion to the main barbecue.

Argentinian Milanesas

It is a fine fillet of beef, soft-boiled and bread. They prepare it fried, grilled or baked and it can also be made with chicken, beef or pork. It is usually served with French fries and salad.

Argentine empanadas

The empanada is the queen of the table in many regions of Latin America and, of course, Argentina also has its favorite variants. In this country they prepare it from wheat flour with a stew as a filling that could include olives.

locro

It is a soup of pre-Hispanic origin that has survived over the centuries with modifications depending on the region of the country in which it is cooked.

The original locro had a base of pumpkin, beans, corn and potatoes that over time merged with elements of Spanish cuisine such as chorizo ​​and pancetta.

Caramel

It is one of the most characteristic sweets in the country and is made from milk and sugar, reduced to form a caramel-colored cream. It is used as a filling or topping for desserts. Some people even consume it alone.

Caramel cookies

Alfajor is a traditional sweet made up of two soft cookies joined by dulce de leche, with grated coconut on top.

This is just one of the most common versions of this sweet of Andalusian origin, since there are other varieties with other fillings and toppings.

Argentine wines

And we cannot talk about gastronomy without mentioning the Argentine wines that are produced in a dozen provinces throughout the country and which have been distinguished as one more food in the Argentine diet.

The passion for this product is so intense that, in 2010, the wine was declared a national drink of Argentina, by presidential decree.

Music

Argentina is a mixture of diverse musical genres that include rock in Spanish with internationally recognized exponents, passing through the typical folk rhythms of the country that are accompanied by their respective dances.

Argentine culture has its own version of cumbia, as well as typical dances such as carnavalito, zamba, cueca, gato, malambo, among others.

The tango

Perhaps young people do not listen to the tango as their ancestors did, but the dance that transforms sounds into elegant and sensual movements is the maximum representation of the Argentine image that also has a great tourist attraction.

Tango was born in Buenos Aires at the end of the 19th century and, since then, its fame only grew until it became one of the elements that distinguishes the country. Historians claim that dance was born first and then the musical genre, which grew around that movement.

The greatest exponent of tango as a musical genre was undoubtedly Carlos Gardel (1890-1935) who, more than 80 years after his death, is still considered the face of tango.

In 2009, the United Nations Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared tango Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. They ensure that this seductive dance must be safeguarded, as it embodies and encourages both cultural diversity and dialogue.

Couple dancing tango

Source: Anouchka Unel

Wikimedia Commons

Religion in Argentina

Argentina establishes freedom of worship in its constitution, however, there is a great Catholic tradition. In fact, the current Pope is the Argentine Jorge Bergoglio, who adopted the name of Francisco, after being elected in 2013 as the leader of the Catholic Church.

There are also other aspects of Christianity in Argentina such as the Protestant churches; Jehovah's Witnesses and a significant presence of Judaism, Islam and Buddhism, among other beliefs.

Other details of Argentina

The Argentine pampa or Pampean region is a plain in which the main livestock and agricultural activity of the country develops. It is so extensive that it covers 1,200,000 km through six provinces in the center-west of the country. In the Argentine pampas lives a group of Mennonites who do not recognize external authority and only use traditional resources, rejecting any modern device.

Group of Argentine Mennonites

Source: lanacion.com.ar

The country has the highest peak in the American continent, Aconcagua, located in the province of Mendoza and with a height of 6,960 meters. It is second only to the Himalayan system in Asia.

Five Argentines have received Nobel Prizes so far in history. Two of them dedicated to peace, two in medicine and one in chemistry.

Argentina has one of the oldest universities in South America, the National University of Córdoba, founded in 1613.

In 1998 a group of fans of former soccer player Diego Armando Maradona founded the Maradonian church to worship their idol. The faithful of this church expanded to a dozen countries in the world and by 2015 it already had 500,000 followers.

Argentina has a dinosaur named after him. The Argentinosaurus Huinculensis, a reptile that lived in the Cretaceous period and that may have reached 15 meters in height thanks to its extended neck. Likewise, it also has in its prehistoric record a bird from the Upper Miocene period, which was baptized with the name of Argentavis Magnificens, whose outstretched wings reached eight meters.

Reconstruction of argentinosaurus huinculensis

Source: William Irvin Sellers, Lee Margetts, Rodolfo Aníbal Coria, Phillip Lars Manning

Wikimedia Commons.

Despite the economic shocks that sometimes affect the country, Argentina is a country whose citizens feel unquestionable national pride, a product of the achievements obtained in different branches of knowledge, sports and the arts.

References

1. Argentine gastronomy. (2019). Taken from turismo.gastronomico.com
2. Origin of the name Argentina: the silver chimera. (2019). Taken from surdelsur.com
3. National sport: the duck. (2019). Taken from ecolo.cancilleria.gob.ar
4. Argentine customs and traditions. (2019). Taken from loudspeakerdigital.com.ar
5. Our Traditions. (2000). Taken from traditiongaucha.com.ar
6. What does mate mean for Argentines? (2019). Taken from yerbamateargentina.org.ar
7. Corporal lenguage. (2019). Gestures and personal distance in Argentina. Taken from protocol.org
8. The voseo in Argentina. (2010). Taken from fundeu.es
9. The tango, heritage of humanity. (2009). Taken from bbcmundo.com