Chilean Independence Day

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The most important and popular national holiday is Independence Day on September 18. The date commemorates the First National Congress of the Chilean Government (Primera Junta Nacional de Gobierno) celebrated that day in 1810. It was the criolla (native Chilean born) political response to the French occupation of the Spanish kingdom at that time, the overthrow of Ferdinand VII, and the coronation of Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon Bonaparte’s older brother, as King of Spain. The original purpose of that first national congress was to create a temporary national government and reject French authorities in the metropolis. However, it was the beginning of the independence war between Chilean forces and the Spanish army that ended up with the independence in February 1818. However, September 18 remained as Independence Day, commonly known as the Dieciocho. In addition to September 18, Chile celebrates the national army on September 19.. Festivities …show more content…

Fondas date to the colonial and early independence eras and are made of simple materials. They are more common in the countryside or in popular neighborhoods surrounding the main urban centers. Adaptations and upgrades of fondas where people eat and drink are still present across the country. All municipalities organize local fairs that include traditional games such as kite-flying, sack racing, climbing a greased pole, pig catching, and folk dancing. It is common, too, that workplaces and co-workers organized small- medium-size celebrations in workplaces at lunch-time the workday closest to the Dieciocho. Festivities include a cup of wine or chicha and an empanada. In some cases, it is the company’s management that offers the small celebration for its workers and in some other cases, there are the workers themselves that organize it. Office hours tend to be tricky in the days around September 18 in the public and private

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