¡Hola! Welcome back to Cultural Traditions Around the World: A series where we explore the globe and learn all about different countries and their interesting cultures. Today we will be exploring Chile, a South American country that boasts an environment of great contrasts – from blistering deserts to frozen glaciers. It makes sense that the people here are varied too! Have you ever wanted to know why Chileans sometimes place money in their shoes or why la Fiestas Patrias is celebrated? Well, today’s your chance to learn all about it! ¡Vamos!
Many countries and cultures around the world have their own unique traditions to ring in the New Year. One Hispanic tradition you might be familiar with is the tradition of the 12 grapes or las doce uvas de la suerte. As the seconds to New Year’s countdown, 12 grapes are consumed as the stroke of the clock inches closer to midnight. Have you heard about another unique tradition that many Chileans partake in? On New Year’s Eve, many people will leave money in their shoes, hoping to attract good luck and financial stability for the New Year.
Las Fiestas Patrias is a national holiday celebrated in mid-September in Chile. The holiday itself typically lasts two days, but celebrations and festivities can last up to a week. La Fiestas Patrias is celebrated in commemoration of the proclamation of the First Governing Body in 1810, which marked the beginning of Chilean independence from Spanish rule. Activities usually associated with the holiday (which is colloquially referred to as El Dieciocho, since it falls on the eighteenth of September) include making and eating traditional Chilean food, parades through cities and traveling to be with family.. Another fun fact about this holiday is that it is mandatory to hang the Chilean flag from every building on this day,as an effort to instill patriotism.
While it may seem like a more modern inclusion, football (known to Americans as soccer) was first brought to Chile in the 19th century and has since then become the most popular sport in the country. In fact, the Federación de Fútbol de Chile (the governing body of the national football team) was founded in 1895:beginning a long tradition of football in this South American country. In 1962, the FIFA World Cup was held in Chile, where the country received the bronze medal. This only exacerbated interest in football amongst the Chilean people, and today football is still one of the biggest talked about activities in Chile!And there you have it! These are some of the most popular Chilean cultural activities and traditions. I hope you enjoyed learning about these unique Chilean traditions.
Until next time – ¡adiós!