Argentina: kids books, artisans, and gauchos

Arts and Crafts of Argentina

In the Chaco region, bags and belts are made from textile woven from chaguar fibre by Wichí, Toba, and other indigenous groups of the area, as they have done for hundreds of years.

The Wichí also make fine wooden objects, animals mainly, from palo santo, a greenish scented wood, also used extensively in wood carving by communities who live along the Río Pilcomayo which forms the border with Paraguay.

In northeastern Salta, painted wooden masks are made by the Chané culture to be used in traditional agricultural ceremonies.

There’s a strong tradition of working precious metals, such as silver, into fine belts and buckles, since the gaucho’s way of carrying his wealth with him was originally in the ornate silver rastras and buckles which are still used today over leather belts, or to tie fajas (woven cloth belts).

1. Beef: Argentina has tradition of cattle ranches and cowboys (gauchos) much older than the United States. Raising about 55 million head of cattle, Argentina is the third largest exporter of beef in the world. Argentine beef is world-famous for its quality and flavor. Argentines have the largest consumption of red meat in the world.
2. Asado: Argentina has its own, world-famous type of barbeque, known as asado. Asado combines the dry heat of grilling with the humid, slow-cooking method of smoking. The result is grilled, barbequed meat that is very tender and juicy. Many foods Americans consider to be Mexican actually originated in Argentina, including chorizo, empanadas, and Dulce de Leche. Finnally, chimichurri sauce (made of olive oil mixed with parsley, oregano, paprika, garlic, onion, pepper, and salt) is actually an Argentine creation, and is traditionally served with an asado barbeque.
3. Wine: Argentinean wine has become increasingly popular worldwide over the last twenty years. Argentina is the fifth largest producer of wine in the world, and has long been the single biggest producer outside of Europe. The province of Mendoza, Argentina’s primary wine producing region, is considered one of the eight wine capitals in the world. Argentina is credited with the finest Malbec wine in the world.
4. The Tango: Almost everyone has heard of this slow, sensual ballroom dance, but many don’t realize it originated in Argentina. Specifically, it evolved in the ports, bars and brothels of Buenos Aires (the capital of Argentina) in the late 19th century. Buenos Aires was a city of immigrants at the time, and the Tango, both the dance and the music, was a fusion of musical styles from Spain, Cube, Africa, Italy, Eastern Europe, and indigenous Argentinean folk music.
5. Evita: For the average person, the first thing they associate with Argentia is the stage and movie musical “Evita,” a rags-to-riches story about Eva Perón. Eva, nicknamed “Evita” by an adoring public, was the wife of the popular Argentinean President Juan Perón, who ruled Argentina in the 1940s and 50s. Evita’s massive popularity among Argentineans came from the charity foundation she set up to assist the poor and working classes. She also advocated women’s right. The story of Evita hit new levels of popularity in the 1990s, when a movie version of the musical was released starring Madonna in the lead role of Eva Perón.

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