{"id":87,"date":"2019-09-13T19:21:07","date_gmt":"2019-09-13T19:21:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chileando.contactchile.cl\/en\/?p=87"},"modified":"2019-09-13T20:16:41","modified_gmt":"2019-09-13T20:16:41","slug":"el-dieciocho-how-chile-celebrates-september-18th","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chileando.contactchile.cl\/en\/2019\/09\/13\/el-dieciocho-how-chile-celebrates-september-18th\/","title":{"rendered":"El Dieciocho: How Chile celebrates September 18th"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\n\nBy Ellie Greenwell for ContactChile<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A national holiday means something different for everyone. For some it means enjoying a long weekend, for others it is a day of get together and celebrations. A day where you meet family and friends, enjoy delicious food and a night sky lit by fireworks.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Chile, September 18th is such a day. September 18th is not just\none day of celebrating, it\u2019s a whole week! Or rather the whole September, to be\nhonest. Chile really takes it up a notch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fiestas patrias<\/em> evoke an\nemotion that units people, a patriotic feeling lies in the air and an unusual\nand contagious chilenidad<\/em> spreads all\nover the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weeks ahead of September\n18th you can feel how the atmosphere is changing: People are happier and more\nrelaxed. Typical music is played in shops and bars. Gigantic Chilean flags\nadorn the buildings and plazas. In taxis you suddenly feel like a statesman\nthanks to the small flags on both sides of the bonnet. The city plunges into a\nsea of red, white and blue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To make your Diciocho<\/em> an unforgettable experience, we\nhave compiled a little guide for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Fun of the Fonda<\/em> <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fondas<\/em> are the true highlight of dieciocho<\/em> celebrations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here they meet, here they dance, here they celebrate. No matter which corner of the country you are in, you can rely on the local town or municipalidad<\/em> to be hosting a fonda<\/em>. (keep your eyes open for original Fonda names<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a fonda<\/em>, you ask? Think of it as a super-Chilean carnival\/fair\/f\u00eate\/event, where locals\ngather to celebrate. These are\nfamily-friendly events where young and old meet to eat, drink and celebrate (but ojo<\/em>, they are often also a raucous affair!). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Live music will\nbe played, and you will certainly\nget to see traditional Cueca<\/em><\/strong>,\nChile’s national dance<\/strong>. The women\nare wearing wonderfully swinging, floral, knee-length dresses reminiscent of\nthe 60s and the men shiny black boots with spurs, hat and poncho. The first\nminutes of the dance remind with its clapping of the Spanish Flamenco. Then the\ndance enchants with graceful turns, fast steps and the continuous turning of\nthe handkerchief, which both dance partners hold in their right hand and\nunderline their charming movements. Flirtation in white red and blue, with star\nin the eye. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cheerful music of the guitarists is infectious. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"fonda\"
Try your hand at some traditional cueca dancing!
Photo: La Hora<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

You typically\ndance three piezas de cueca<\/em>, three\nsongs. And after that you certainly feel hungry , so let’s talk about food: Fondas<\/em> are the best place to sample Chilean specialities<\/strong> such as choripan<\/em>\n(marraqueta\nbread with grilled chorizo sausages), anticucho<\/em> (grilled skewers of meat), complex<\/em> (Chilean hot dog), asado<\/em> (grilled meat of all\nkinds) and of course empanadas in<\/em> various flavours. The offer is\nextensive. Let your nose guide you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can be difficult for vegetarians or vegans to find something to eat on a classic Fonda. However, Chile’s growing vegetarian scene has led to veggie\/vegan fondas<\/em> becoming a popular alternative in recent years – like those at Centro El Cerro<\/a> (Bombero N\u00fa\u00f1ez 231). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"fonda\"
Try all the Chilean food fondas have to offer!
Photo: RadioOrienteFM<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMe gusta el vino, porque el vino es bueno, pero cuando el agua, brota pura y cristalina, de la madre tierra… <\/p>

m\u00e1s me gusta el vino\u201d<\/p> ME GUSTA EL VINO – TITO FERN\u00c1NDEZ<\/a> <\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

You can’t leave a Fonda without tasting a classic Terremoto<\/em><\/strong> (<\/em>earthquake), a combination of Chicha<\/em> (a kind of fermented wine), grenadine juice and pineapple ice cream – all coming together to create a sweet, creamy, bubblegum-pink drink that looks a lot more innocent than it really is. Remember, the name is terremoto<\/em> \u2013 don\u2019t be surprised if after a couple of these the ground starts to move beneath you! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fonda is not equal Fonda <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you are celebrating Dieciocho in Santiago <\/a>the biggest and most famous Fonda is<\/em> the one in Parque O’Higgins<\/strong> (right off subway line 2). You’ll be in the middle of an adventure, celebrating a colorful, loud and unique Fonda with Chileans from all over Santiago. If it is your first Dieciocho<\/em>, a word of warning: protect your belongings from pickpockets (like at any folk festival) and go home by taxi.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An excellent alternative are the fondas<\/em> in the eastern part of Santiago. In\nLas Condes for example the Fonda<\/em> des Parque Araucano<\/strong> or in La\nReina the Fonda<\/em> des Parque Alberto Hurtado <\/strong>if you want to experience the Dieciocho<\/em> in a more quiet and cultivated\nenvironment. You will find a pleasant, familiar atmosphere here, with live\nmusic and delicious typical food. Admire the local craftsmanship or try your luck\nat one of the entertaining skill games. Traditional Cueca will be danced all\nnight long, of course. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

La Pampilla: big, bigger, biggest! <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You know what a fonda<\/em> is, now take that concept and multiply it by 1000 — that\u2019s La Pampilla<\/a>. It is the largest fonda in the country, takes place in Coquimbo in the Little North of Chile and attracts over 450,000 celebrants every year. This huge festival<\/strong> attracts some of Chile’s most important artists to its main stage and turns the 7-day national celebration into an unforgettable event.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The festival area of La Pampilla is open 24-hours and its entrance costs only 1,500 pesos. As at every festival there is a fair with rides and uncountable food stalls. Take your pick of terremoto<\/em> (traditional, with mint taste or maybe blue? ). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"la
La Pampilla is the craziest of all the dieciocho fondas!
Photo: El Dinamo<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Preparation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Wherever you\u2019re\nheading for the long weekend, preparation is vital. For many Chileans the Fiestas Patrias are<\/em>\ntheir highlight of the year. They take the fiestas patrias<\/em> very\nseriously, and most Santiaguinos <\/em>will be heading out of the city to\nvisit family members in other parts of Chile. If you\u2019re planning a getaway,\nmake sure to book your bus or plane ticket, as well as accommodation, well in\nadvance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expect to see\ncrowds fill up popular coastal towns if you\u2019re heading to the beach. If you\u2019re\nstaying in Santiago, it might feel like a ghost town compared to the usual\nhustle and bustle, which just as\nwell can be very pleasant. However, thanks to the numerous events you won’t get\nbored here either. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However you plan to spend the weekend of September 18th, it\u2019s impossible\nnot to get caught up in the festivities. So let yourself be carried away by the\ncontagious chilenidad<\/em>, grab a terremoto<\/em>, put your cueca shoes on and\nenjoy the fiestas! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have fun! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A national holiday means something different for everyone. For some a bank holiday means enjoying a long weekend, for others it is a day of get together and celebrations. A day where you meet family and friends, enjoy delicious food and a night sky lit by fireworks. In Chile, September 18th is such a day. September 18th is not just one day of celebrating, it\u2019s a whole week! Or rather the whole September, to be honest. Chile really takes it up a notch. <\/p>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\tread more<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":91,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nEl Dieciocho: How Chile celebrates September 18th - Chileando<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In Chile, September 18 is a holiday that is taken very seriously. 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