El Dieciocho - better known as September

The fourth of July is a big deal in the U.S.  A really big deal.  And I love the holiday for all that it stands for and for the fact that, for one day, the whole country comes together.  We put our difference behind us.  We don't worry about political affiliations, we become colorblind, we become a classless society and realize, at least for one day, that we are all living in the same neighborhood - the United States.  We are all just happy to be American and we celebrate it for one glorious day.

But we have nothing on the Chileans.

They don't celebrate for a mere day.  Or even a weekend.  They celebrate for a whole month.  And when I say celebrate, I mean, they CELEBRATE.  There are Asados to stuff yourself at, Fondas to attend and Cuecas to dance. There are Terremotos to drink, kites to fly and if you have kids, school assemblies to attend.  Though is seems like a lot, you have plenty of time to do it all.  More than once.   Because even though the Chilean's independence from Spain was declared on the 18th of September (hence Dieciocho) in 1810, it all starts with the 1st of September.  When the date finally rolls around the entire country seems to heave off the shackles of winter and lifts their newly lightened limbs to the skies to welcome the dawning of Spring.  It is the end of the cold, damp winter and it is the perfect time to celebrate.  At the beginning of the month you start to notice the vendors lining the street corners are now selling flags of every size and kites in every shape. You will start finding the grocery stores stocked with all of your Asado necessities - meat, meat, grill, meat, some bread and a bit more meat.  You will start seeing traditional Cueca outfits - for men this means a traditional huaso's hat (flat and round brimmed) with a flannel poncho worn over his shoulders, riding pants and boots (spurs optional).  Woman wear a flowered dress with an apron.  As the month progresses, and we get nearer and nearer to El Dieciocho - the Fondas (and feasts) begin in earnest.

I don't even know if I could describe a Fonda since I have only been to one, so I will let Doris Hamilton (a noted teacher from Chile) say it for me..."Fondas are held in large gathering halls in small temporary sites in the cities, towns and rural areas of Chile.  The fondas in small towns and rural areas are often roofed with branches from eucalyptus trees and have sawdust-covered floors.  Usually the fondas operate for five or six nights during the Dieciocho celebration." And then they disappear, unti the next year.  The one we went to yesterday was hardly in a small town (the east end of Santiago) and was held at a large park.  It reminded me of the county fair that rolled into my small city every year, only to roll out two weeks later.  The Fonda had rodeo's and livestock, local wares and homemade jams for sale.  There was a midway and a food way (not a real word but you get my drift).  There was a stage for the bands and floor for dancing.
It was a lot of fun for all of us.  We each tried a little bit of everything.  Stinkerbell got to go on her first roller coaster and she stuffed herself with her favorite Chilean food - Choripan (Chorizo sausage wrapped in bread).  She also had "Candy Cotton" and a sticky face.  MadHatter got her Papa to dance the Cueca with her, which she couldn't have enjoyed more, even more than the pony ride that wrapped up our day.  B and I tried our first Terremoto (translates literally to earthquake) and it really does leave your knees wobbly and the ground shaking - and we split one.  I can't imagine drinking a whole one.

The recipe: 

2 Liters of White Wine

1 1/4 cups of Pisco

3 Tbs sugar

Pineapple Ice Cream

In a shaker add the white wine, pisco, sugar and about 5 Tbs of ice cream.  Cover shaker and mix well.  Pour into tall pint glass and top with a large scoop of ice cream.  Feel the earth shake!

Feliz Dieciocho everyone!!!  Hope you had a great time if you were here.  If not, consider joining us next year.