Page 31 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Argentina

A POR TR AIT OF ARGENTINA  29

Gaucho Festivals
Many towns and cities in the Argentinian
interior celebrate their local gaucho and farming
heritage with lively parades, folk music con certs,
and spectacular equestrian shows. The big gest
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) Dancers from the
perform a country dance known as the northwest of the
chacarera. Originating in the northwest of country perform a high-
Argentina, it is a dance of lively rhythms spirited carnavalito (circle
and pantomimic play. dance) during La Rural
(see p49), the annual
agri cultural 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. The poncho is a
However, their everyday workclothes simple garment
usually contain a few elements of worn usually to
keep warm.
traditional dress.
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
The legend of Juan Moreira that have a hint
of the Arabian
An outlaw and local folk hero, about them.
Juan Moreira is an important
figure in Argentina’s gaucho Tough working
history. He fought against the boots are replaced
by alpargatas drilles
injustice meted out to gauchos (sandals) for leisure.
as the military advanced across
the country’s interior during
the late 19th century. The plains
were fenced off and handed
out to Creole aristo crats, and
many gauchos were forced
into employment as poorly
paid peons and foot soldiers
Poster of the film Juan Moreira
fighting in regional battles
between landowners. Moreira was murdered by the Boleadoras are heavy ball-lassos,
authorities in 1874. In 1973, Argentinian director Leonard effective for capturing the wild
Favio made a celebrated film in his honor. flightless rheas that inhabit the
Pampas region.

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