On the 9th of July, Buenos Aires and the rest of the country will be celebrating one of the most important dates in the Argentine calendar… the Argentine Independence from Spain.
How do people traditionally celebrate the 9th of July in Argentina? What can you do with your children in you want to find an alternative, more modern way of spending the 9th of July celebrations with your children in Buenos Aires?
Get the basic facts on the Argentine Independence below, take note of the important traditional dishes of the day and then consider taking on board our modern idea for your 9th of July celebrations with your children. KidsinBA has all the answers!
Important Dates and Facts leading up to Argentina’s Independence
1. The Spaniard Juan de Solís lands on the shores of the Plata in 1516 and is captured and killed.
2. In 1527, local natives destroy the small settlements called Sancti Spiritus and the failed explorers return to Spain.
3. In 1536, Pedro de Mendoza founds a settlement called Santa María del Buen Aire, today known as Buenos Aires.
4. In the late 1570’s forces from Paraguay establish Santa Fé in Argentina.
5. On 11 June 1580 Juan de Garay re-founds the settlement at Buenos Aires.
6. The British invade Buenos Aires in 1806 and again in 1807, but don’t manage to maintain control.
7. On 25 May 1810, the cabildo of Buenos Aires depose the viceroy and the city forms its own junta.
8. Military campaigns led by General José de San Martín in Argentina and other South American countries between 1814 and 1817 make independence from Spain more probable.
10. On July 9th 1816, after Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo, the delegates meet in the Bazán family home, now the Casa Histórica de la Independencia museum, to finally proclaim their independence from Spanish rule.
Traditions and Customs for Celebrating Argentina’s Independence
If you would like to introduce your children to the traditions and customs associated with the 9th of July in Argentina, you need to organize a very long family lunch. The traditional dishes that you must serve up include locro, pastelitos, churros and lots of red wine for the adult members of the crowd.
Locro is a wonderfully tasty stew made from a succulent mix of corn, pumpkin, beans and, of course, meat. Depending on which region in Argentina you visit, the stew might be served up with beef or pork, but in either form it is an incredibly dense, high calorie and nutrient rich meal that helps to keep out the cold that Argentines suffer during the winter months.
Locro is also traditionally seasoned with garlic, oil, onions and pepper and takes on a creamy-like texture thanks to the mixture of vegetable ingredients involved.
Dessert, in the form of sweet pastelitos and churros with hot chocolate, will go down a treat with the young and old, so be sure to get your order in early with the local bakers. In fact, if you really want to treat the family, consider taking them out to a restaurant that serves locro and pick up the sweet treats on the way home.
Once lunch is over, don’t forget to schedule in a well-deserved siesta to sleep off all the food you will have just consumed. If you manage to fit all this into your hectic day of Argentine independence, you will have successfully experienced the most traditional way of celebrating the 9th of July in Buenos Aires.
However, if you fancy doing something different with your kids this 9th of July, why not try the following free and fun activity…
Free Comic Book Fun for your Kids in Buenos Aires on the 9th of July
Animate is a fantastic meeting for lovers of comics. It is being held in the Miguelete Center on
Rodriguez Peña 2704, between Avenida General Paz and Avenida 25 de Mayo.
There are shows, exhibitions, dance groups and talks, all related to the world of comics which makes it is the perfect place to be with your young children on the 9th of July.
The event actually opens on Friday 6th July at 4pm and continues right through until, and including, Monday 9th July from 11am until 8pm and it is completely free for everyone!
Kids In Buenos Aires 