Fiestas Patrias: el dieciocho
las Fiestas Patrias
The week Chile stops for the eighteenth: dance halls built of wood and branches, a handkerchief dance everybody learned at school, empanadas by the million, kites over the hills, and a drink named after an earthquake.
In this topic
- What do Chileans eat, drink and dance on el dieciocho?
- Why does Chile celebrate independence on 18 September?
- What Spanish words do you need for Chile's Fiestas Patrias?
Chile's national week around 18 September. In the countryside the dance hall is a ramada rather than a fonda; the food and the cueca are the same.
The dieciocho, piece by piece
Where
- la fonda a temporary dance hall of wood and branches, built in the squares
- la ramada the countryside name, from la rama, branch
The dance
- la cueca the national dance since 1979; dancers hold a white handkerchief and turn — It imitates a cockerel and a hen.
- el pañuelo the handkerchief
- las competencias September competitions; every child learns it at school
The food
- la empanada de pino beef, onion, egg and one olive — Pino comes from a Mapuche word for the minced-meat filling.
- el asado barbecue
- los anticuchos meat skewers
The drinks
- la chicha sweet fermented grape juice
- el terremoto sweet white wine with pineapple ice cream — The second glass is la réplica, the aftershock.
The sky
- el volantín the kite, flown on the hills and in the parks — Chile; elsewhere la cometa or el papalote.
- Fondas, big structures of wood and branches, are built in the squares; inside people eat, drink and above all dance the cueca.
- The cueca has been Chile's national dance since 1979; dancers hold a white handkerchief; children learn it at school and compete in September.
- Millions of empanadas de pino are eaten; the terremoto is sweet white wine with pineapple ice cream, and the second glass is called la réplica.
En las plazas se construyen fondas: casas grandes de madera y ramas.In the squares fondas are built: big structures of wood and branches.
Los bailarines llevan un pañuelo blanco en la mano y dan vueltas.The dancers hold a white handkerchief in their hand and turn in circles.
Se comen millones de empanadas de pino, con carne, cebolla, huevo y una aceituna.Millions of empanadas de pino are eaten, with beef, onion, egg and one olive.
En los bares sirven el terremoto: vino blanco dulce con helado de piña.In the bars they serve the terremoto: sweet white wine with pineapple ice cream.
The dates
On 18 September 1810 Chile's first Government Junta was formed; independence itself came in 1818, but the party is on this date, and Chileans simply call the whole week el dieciocho. September is the start of spring in the southern hemisphere, so at last the weather is good. On the 19th there is a military parade, and the country rests for a few more days; many businesses close for the whole week.
- On 18 September 1810 the first Junta de Gobierno was formed; independence came in 1818.
- On 19 September there is a military parade, and many businesses close for the whole week.
- September is the start of spring in Chile.
Ese día, en 1810, se formó la primera Junta de Gobierno.On that day, in 1810, the first Government Junta was formed.
En septiembre empieza la primavera, y por fin hace buen tiempo.September is the start of spring, and at last the weather is good.
El 19 de septiembre hay un desfile militar, y el país descansa unos días más.On the 19th of September there is a military parade, and the country rests for a few more days.
Words for the week
- la patria
- the homeland
- celebrar
- to celebrate
- dar vueltas
- to turn, to go round
- las competencias
- competitions
- el desfile
- the parade
- descansar
- to rest
Todos los niños la aprenden en la escuela, y en septiembre hay competencias.All children learn it at school, and in September there are competitions.
Los niños vuelan volantines en los cerros y en los parques.Children fly kites on the hills and in the parks.
Words to know
- las Fiestas Patrias
- the national holidays
- el dieciocho
- the eighteenth: the whole holiday week
- la fonda
- the temporary dance hall
- la cueca
- the national dance
- el pañuelo
- the handkerchief
- la empanada de pino
- the beef-and-onion empanada
- el terremoto
- the earthquake; the sweet wine-and-ice-cream drink
- el volantín
- the kite
Hear it
El 18 de septiembre Chile celebra sus Fiestas Patrias.On the 18th of September Chile celebrates its national holidays.
Dentro se come, se bebe y sobre todo se baila cueca.Inside people eat, drink and above all dance the cueca.
Los bailarines llevan un pañuelo blanco en la mano y dan vueltas.The dancers hold a white handkerchief in their hand and turn in circles.
En los bares sirven el terremoto: vino blanco dulce con helado de piña.In the bars they serve the terremoto: sweet white wine with pineapple ice cream.
Read in full
- Las Fiestas Patrias de Chile — Chile's national holidays
- O'Higgins y la independencia de Chile — O'Higgins and Chilean independence