Friendship Day in Argentina
In today’s article, we talk about Friendship Day, an Argentine festivity that celebrates the value of friendship. Discover its origins and traditions with us!
The history of Friendship Day in Argentina begins on the 20th of July 1969. On that day, the Apollo 11 spacecraft, with astronaut Neil Armstrong, landed on the moon for the first time. This day was very special in the history of humanity. Many people watched television at the same time in different parts of the world, and everyone was excited and united.
In light of this global event, an Argentine professor named Enrique Ernesto Febbraro thought that this day was perfect for celebrating friendship. He believed that man’s arrival on the moon showed that humanity could achieve incredible things if everyone was willing to unite.
And that is how Febbraro wrote more than a thousand letters to people in different countries. In those letters, he proposed celebrating the 20th of July as Friendship Day. Many people supported his idea, and little by little, this celebration became very popular in Argentina.
How is it celebrated?
Friendship Day is not an official holiday, but people celebrate it with great enthusiasm. In cities such as Buenos Aires, Rosario, and Córdoba, bars and restaurants are filled with friends who gather to eat, drink a toast, or simply have a good time.
Others have asados or barbecues at home or prepare picadas (similar to Spanish tapas) to share with their friends. It is also common to make video calls if friends live far away.
On this day, it is normal to receive messages, audio recordings, or social media posts with messages of friendship or memories. In some years, so many people sent so many messages at the same time to talk to their friends that the telephone networks crashed.
Mate that brings people together
In Argentina, mate, a typical drink made with herb mate (a type of tea) and hot water, is a must. It is drunk in groups and passed from hand to hand, representing trust and closeness between friends.
Sharing mate is a way of being together. Passing mate between friends is a custom that perfectly reflects the spirit of Friendship Day: sharing, talking, being present. That is why mate is a fundamental part of Friendship Day celebrations.
Some interesting facts
Although this celebration is mainly popular in Argentina, it is also known in other countries such as Uruguay, Brazil, and Chile, albeit with less intensity.
Many people take advantage of this day to reconnect with old friends or apologise to their friends if they had an argument.
In Rosario, Febbraro’s hometown, Friendship Day is so popular that in some years they considered changing the date to avoid such large crowds.
Ultimately, celebrating Friendship Day is a special way of saying “thank you for being there” to the people who matter most.
It doesn’t matter if friends are near or far, if they see each other every day or only occasionally. The important thing is to remember that friendship makes people feel accompanied, listened to and loved.
That’s why, every 20th of July in Argentina, many people take a moment to celebrate that special bond that brings joy to life: friendship.
If you want to learn more about the festivities and traditions of Latin American countries, we suggest you take a look at our posts on the May Revolution in Argentina or the Day of the Dead in Mexico.
Finally, our Spanish school El Rincón del Tándem encourages you to explore the cultural richness of Spanish-speaking countries while improving your Spanish.
See you next time!
