Argentina May 2013 Vol 5

PEOPLE AND DAILY LIFE IN ARGENTINA
Olivia Watt
2013
� FOOD AND OTHER TRADITIONS IN ARGENTINA

Daily Life in

Argentina

Getting up close and personal with the people of Argentina and Experiencing the life of an Argentinian .

People and Daily Life in Argentina

Daily life in Argentina ’ s cities is much like life in southern Europe : businesses open early and close for a break and midday , staying open throughout the evening . Meals are a way of being social in Argentina . The Argentine ’ s diet is very filling in the sense that breakfast is generally a serving of three sweet rolls ( medialunas ) and French coffee , and like the Spanish , the Argentinians eat dinner after 9:00 pm , often featuring Italian dishes . There is also a dish consisting of beef cooked on the grill ( parrilla ), which is better to them than other meats . Argentina consumes more beef than any other nation except Uruguay , twice the amount as the United States . Buenos Aires is known
for its steakhouses ( asados criollos . Maté , the tealike beverage brewed from yerba maté leaves , is popular in the countryside ; it is either drank individually or shared with friends during social events . Argentina is one of the largest wine producers in the world , and its red wines are highly prized , though most production goes toward supplying high domestic consumption .

HOLIDAYS and TRADITIONS

• Most Argentines follow the Roman Catholic calendar of holidays , with Christmas and Easter . San Martin Day ( August 17 ), Venticinco de Mayo ( May 25 , the anniversary of the revolution of 1810 ), and Nueve de Julio ( July 9 , Independence Day ) are among the national holidays . There are also festivals , including the Fiesta del Milagros (“ Miracle Festival ”) in Salta , commemorating an earthquake in September 1692 , the celebration on July 6 of the founding of Córdoba , and the wine festival in Mendoza in March .