Emma Abroad: Chile's Independence Day Festivities

Although it has been a little bit of time since some of these festivities occurred they are worth writing a blog post about! Technically Chile's Independence Day is on the 18th, but it's more than just one day of celebrations, it's more like a week worth! We got the week of from school, which was very nice if I say so myself! From traditional games at school and traditional outfits to some very good homemade empanadas and fresh meat on the grill!

For me the celebrations began a couple of days before the week off in school. Hallways and classrooms were covered in Chilean flags, streamers, "Viva Chile", "Feliz 18", and other decorations. It looked awesome! On the Friday before our week off it was a day filled with activities. The "seniors", the oldest kids in the school here set up "Ramadas" which are like little shelter type of structures. There were traditional foods being served and being cooked. There were tug-of-war, which I took part in! There was also 3-legged races and sack races and other games going on. The best part was watching students in the traditional outfits dance the official Chilean dance, the "cucea". I myself learned the very very basic steps to the dance later in the week! People here are very good dancers and I am really not!

My family headed to our country house in Ninhue for the week! Many friends and family joined us there for the week! On the 18th my family dressed in the traditional clothing and went to a church ceremony, not sure what was said, but it was good to experience it! The rest of the gorgeous, sunny afternoon was spent playing tennis and ping pong and making food! I learned how to make empanadas, although I prefer only empandas de queso (cheese) it was still fun to do! We then enjoyed delicious grilled meat and vegetables-delicious! Later that night went down the road where Ramadas had been set up in Ninhue. Parts of it were just lots of people dancing and enjoying themselves! It was fun to watch and also take part in, but once again..I can't dance, at all! Another part was more traditional games that you could pay to play. We all played a couple of the games, and once again it was fun! And to end the night everyone danced the cucea. Overall it was a great day and it was exciting to take part in my first holiday here in Chile!