TRADITION DAY (By Jemina Monasterio)

THE TOPIC OF MY PRESENTATION IS THE TRADITION DAY IN ARGENTINA

IT IS CELEBRATED ON NOVEMBER 10 BECAUSE ON THAT DAY JOSE HERNANDEZ, CREATOR OF "MARTÍN FIERRO", WAS BORN.

HIS GAUCHO POEM BECAME THE MOST GENUINE LITERARY PIECE OF ARGENTINE FOLKLORE AND WAS TRANSLATED INTO MANY LANGUAGES.

THE MAIN POINTS I WILL TALK ABOUT ARE:

FIRSTLY: THE MEANING OF TRADITION AND SECONDLY, HOW THIS FEAST IS SHOWED BY MEANS OF FOOD.

LET’S BEGIN WITH TRADITION: IT MEANS "GIFT OR BEQUEST".  IT IS THAT WHICH BELONGS TO A PEOPLE, WHAT SETS IT APART FROM OTHERS. IT'S OWN, A SET OF CUSTOMS THAT ARE PASSED FROM PARENTS TO CHILDREN.

 SO THE TRADITION OF A NATION IS ITS POPULAR CULTURE, THE LARGE SET OF ALL THE CUSTOMS OF EACH REGION.

NOW LET’S MOVE ON TO WHAT IS THE FEAST OF TRADITION?

 IN SOME PLACES THE ONLY PLAYERS OF THE FESTIVITIES ARE THE PEASANTS, ARTISANS, MUSICIANS, DANCERS, PAINTERS, and WRITERS ETC... THAT IS, ALL THAT MAKE UP THE CULTURAL BACKGROUND OF THE PEOPLE AND "THE GAUCHO", PROUD OF THE PAST.

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THE TRADITIONAL FOOD

MEALS AND DRINKS ARE ALSO PART OF THE TRADITIONS. EVERY PLACE IN THE COUNTRY HAS ITS TYPICAL FOOD. IN THE TRADITIONAL ARGENTINA ARE THE SOUP, PIES, “ASADO”, AND STEW: “LOCRO”, “PASTELITOS”, “TORTAS FRITAS” AND “DULCE DE LECHE” AMONG OTHERS.

 THE FOOD IS VERY IMPORTANT TO SHARE WHILE DRINKING MATE, WHICH IS A TYPICAL DRINK THAT CONSISTS OF A CUP WITH YERBA AND A DRINKING STRAW, WHERE SOMEONE PUT HOT WATER AND IT IS PASSED TO ANOTHER PERSON IN A ROUND.

 CREOLE AND BROTHERHOOD SYMBOL, MATE HAS EARNED A CENTRAL PLACE IN THE LIVES OF MANY OF US, "THE BITTER" WITH US DAY AND NIGHT, IN OUR LONELINESS AND MEETINGS WITH FRIENDS OR FAMILY, SOME TAKE IT SWEET, WITH OTHER HERBS OR COLD, BUT ONE CERTAIN THING IS THAT WE ALWAYS DRINK IT.

SOME FOODS WHICH WERE ADDED OVER TIME AND HAVE BECOME PART OF THE TRADITION ARE PIZZA, WHICH IS OF ITALIAN ORIGIN, THE CHICKEN WITH MASHED POTATOES AND HAMBURGERS.

 

I’D LIKE TO FINISH BY SAYING THAT THE PARTY ISN’T COMPLETE WITHOUT THE MUSIC: “ZAMBA”, “CHAMAMÉ”, “CHAMARRITAS”, “EL GATO” , “EL ESCONDIDO”, “EL MINUÉ” ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF THE VARIETY OF THE MUSIC TO CELEBRATE.

WHILE SOMEONE PLAYS “BOMBO” AND GUITARS THE LADIES DANCE WITH COLOURING CLOTHES. 

THE BOMBO LEGÜERO IS A POPULAR ARGENTINE FOLKLORE MEMBRANOPHONE ORIGINALLY FROM THE PROVINCE OF SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO. IT OWES ITS NAME TO THE FEATURE THAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE HEARD EVEN A LEAGUE AWAY.

IT IS A REALLY A BEAUTIFUL PARTY WHERE THE PEOPLE CELEBRATE AND SING TOGETHER, IT IS A MOMENT TO SHARE GOOD THINGS.