Page 49 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Argentina

ARGENTINA THROUGH THE Y EAR  47

the guitar, with an emphasis
on world folk traditions.
Casa Foa (late Oct), Buenos
Aires. This hugely popular
design and architecture
exposition is a platform for
Argentinian designers, interior
deco rators, and landscape
artists to showcase their work.
November
Día de Todos los Santos (Nov 1),
across the Andean North-west.
People gather to decorate
graves with tokens and flowers.
In some places, traditional folk
rhythms are sung.
Día de la Tradición (weekend
nearest Nov 12), across
Argentina. Gauchos in
traditional attire lead horses
decorated with silver-buckled
bridles in parades.
Abierto Argentino de Polo Performers dressed in striking costumes at Carnaval, Gualeguaychú
(mid-Nov–mid-Dec), Buenos
Aires. This posh polo event has restaurants and hotels in January
gained popularity in Argentina cities and towns organize Año Nuevo (Jan 1), across
over the years. theme parties at colorfully Argentina. The new year is
Creamfields (late Nov), Buenos decorated venues. welcomed by families and
Aires. The renowned electronic Navidad (Dec 25), across friends who gather and set off
music festival, a staple on the Argentina. On this day, people fireworks in towns and cities.
international scene, is the largest go to church services in the Fiesta de la Cereza (early Jan),
such event in Latin America. morning and celebrate with a Santa Cruz. The main fruit-
Christmas lunch. All museums growing farms in this fertile
are closed and many bars and corner of southern Patagonia
Summer
restau rants only open in the celebrate with music, dance,
With the whole country on late after noon or early evening. and lots of healthy fruits.
summer holiday, Argentina Fin de Año (Dec 31), across
celebrates the season with a Argentina. The new year February
variety of music and produce holiday starts only at noon Carnaval (Feb), Buenos Aires
festivals. Christmas and the so the morning is a regular and Gualeguaychú. In the town
arrival of the new year bring working day. of Gualeguaychú in the Entre
their own festivities and family Ríos province, the locals bring
reunions. Carnaval is not as big color and creative flair to street
in Argentina as in Brazil, but is parades during Carnaval. In
taken seriously in Litoral and the different neighborhoods of
Andean Northwest. Patagonia Buenos Aires, murga (bands of
is warmest in summer but street musicians) beat drums
powerful winds roll across and artistes dance to the music
the steppes. Many prefer to in the streets and plazas.
head farther south to the tem- Fiesta de la Pachamama (Feb 6),
perate but rela tively wind-free Purmamarca. With folk concerts,
climes of Tierra del Fuego, ancient rituals, and mass feasts,
departure point for cruise indigenous and mestizo groups
tours to Antarctica. pay tribute to the important
pre-Columbian fertility goddess
December Pachamama (Earth Mother).
El Bolsón Jazz Festival (early Fiesta del Lúpulo (late Feb),
Dec), El Bolsón. A festival El Bolsón. The country’s main
offering jazz shows in this hop festival, this is a lively beer-
music-loving town. drinking party, extremely
Noche Buena (Dec 24), across popular with the hippies and
Argentina. On the “good night,” Meat barbecued during the Año Nuevo trekkers who descend on this
Christmas Eve, most of the celebration laid-back town every summer.

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