Argentina, a country of diverse landscapes and even more diverse customs, offers a wealth of experiences that are deeply rooted in its regional differences. From the subtropical north to the cool reaches of Patagonia in the south, each region boasts its own unique customs and traditions. Love runs through the stomach, so when we interviewed Facundo D. Herrera about his love for his native Argentina, we started with local culinary delights.
Tastes of Argentina
In Argentina, dining is not so much about eating as it is about socializing. Argentines commonly dine on the street because the food is tasty and affordable. Discussions during meals can vary, with work topics usually discussed after the main course or dessert, which highlights the Argentine approach to separating leisure from work. Argentine cuisine is a testament to its rich cultural heritage. “My favorite dish is milanesa, maybe that’s why I serve it in your country. It is something like your schnitzel, except that we usually bread beef instead of pork. Empanadas, another typical specialty, are wheat pockets that are eaten all over the country. But their filling is determined by regional recipes, from beef in the colder south to potatoes or olives in the north. What’s not to be missed are the different types of meat prepared on the grill, which we call asado. I would also recommend locro, which is a kind of stew or thick soup made with pumpkin, corn and other ingredients like beans, potatoes, etc. And you also asked about what a parillada is. You have to experience that too. It’s actually a barbecue where you get together with friends, family, dance, talk, celebrate and we also have folk music.”
Social Etiquette: Gestures and Greetings
“Argentines prefer a kiss on the right cheek to a handshake, although this is more common in business. Argentine interactions are spontaneous and friendly, with no strict rules about who should greet or shake hands first. A lot of us have Italian or Spanish ancestry, so we’ve adopted a lot of gestures from them, the way we speak – and we’re a bit more expressive in that, to put it mildly, than is customary here.”
Names and Titles
I hear that unlike the Spanish, you don’t use two surnames, but two first names? “That’s not entirely true. I myself have a second surname, Alegre, which means happy, but the fact is that I only use it when someone asks me. I’m Herrera Alegre. I also have a first and middle name, but I only use the first letter of my middle name on my business cards. It’s all more about personal taste and priorities. Unlike you, we don’t use titles as much, because in our country it’s the position that counts more than the title.”
Tango, Malamba, Chacarera
“For me, when it comes to dancing, I prefer folk dances over tango. Although even the Argentine tango can be said to be the folk dance of Buenos Aires and the surrounding provinces. But the place I’m from is about 1000 kilometers north of the capital, so the traditions are a bit different there. In my region, we do the chacarera or the samba malambo. But don’t think of the classic Brazilian samba, ours is more traditional, danced with scarves around our necks and hats. More folklore, less party.”
Passionate Love of Sport
Football is more than just a game in Argentina, it’s a cultural phenomenon. Attending a football match goes beyond the sport itself. It is an experience that captures the passionate spirit of the Argentine people. “You have to see it, a lot of people who are not interested in football attend matches, it’s an experience for everyone. Besides football, we are also passionate fans of tennis, rugby and basketball. But our national sport is pato (translated as duck). It is an equestrian game that combines elements of polo and basketball. Once upon a time, a real live duck was used instead of a ball, but don’t worry, it was officially banned as a live target in the late 18th century.”
The Argentine Approach to Action and Humor
When negotiating, Argentinians prefer to have face-to-face meetings, often preceded by casual conversation on neutral topics such as family, hobbies or travel. Argentines are the most passionate travelers in South America. They are not big fans of risk when negotiating, while a sense of humor plays an important role. “I like this joke for example, it sums up our humor perfectly: I wish you were my bank. Why? Because I like the low interest (which translates to interest, but also interest) you have in me.”
National Pride and Historical Figures
“Argentina’s history and present is rich in influential personalities. Everyone knows Maradona or Messi, for sure. My historical hero, for example, is José de San Martín, who played a key role in our country’s independence. It’s thanks to him that we celebrate our two biggest holidays, namely 25 May as the start of the path to independence and 9 July, the day on which our independence was officially recognized. Every year in July, the government holds a big celebration in front of the Casa Rosada, the presidential residence, where various artistic performances are held to accentuate the importance of our independence. Of course, I cannot fail to mention our current ambassador who tirelessly shows the diverse contribution of the Argentine people to the world – Pope Francis.”
A Nation of Readers and Theatre Lovers
Argentines place a high value on education, with a very high standard, and we even have free university education. The love of knowledge here goes beyond academia. “There are 45 million of us and we live in a country that is over 3,000,000 square kilometers, and customs and culture vary a bit from region to region. So, I’ll use cosmopolitan Buenos Aires as an example. Here they love theatre, literature—in fact all the arts that are related to theater. We are avid readers. I myself have a habit of reading for at least an hour before going to bed. Anyone who visits Buenos Aires must therefore visit the Ateneo, which is a library built on the site of a former theatre. We sometimes convert historical buildings into venues for enjoyment. For example, we turned a church into a much-visited pizzeria. We are very open, we don’t have problems with religion because we are really cosmopolitan and we respect each other a lot in that respect.”
Tradition, Celebration, Freedom
Argentina’s traditions are a mix of indigenous and European influences, which manifest themselves in everything from dance to culinary customs. When we talk about celebrations, probably the first thing that comes to mind for most of us is weddings. “Did you know that Argentina is the first country in Latin America to legalize gay marriage and the possibility of adoption for same-sex couples? As far as celebrations go, what I had to get used to when I arrived in the Czech Republic was that if I wanted to celebrate, I had to start no later than 8pm, because after 10pm we can hardly get anything to eat anywhere with our friends. It’s not like here, because we usually start celebrating at 1 a.m. and finish in the morning.”
The Tie Is In
“We’re not very strict when it comes to dress code. But what we wear more than you is a tie, and we wear it to all the more formal events, and we probably take off our jackets less often than you do.”
Yerba Maté – A Symbol of Argentine Identity
Maté, the traditional Argentine tea made from the Paraguayan holly, is a staple and symbol of the nation. The ritual of preparing and sharing maté is a daily practice that transcends social and economic boundaries and unites Argentines in a shared cultural experience. It is common to see Argentines on the street with a thermos and a maté cup, called a calabasa. “We are complete addicts. I myself drink it every day, and I’ve lived outside Argentina for six years. I just make it a little weaker, I don’t brew a new cup with a new mixture every time, but I pour water over that morning’s portion all day.”
Self-Confidence As Part of the DNA
“It’s strange, but self-confidence is really like a certain part of the Argentine DNA. Even if we don’t know something or don’t know how to do something, somewhere inside we’re confident that we can still do it. We can do anything. If we don’t know something, we’re happy to learn it. I probably realized this the most when I came to Manila on a mission and went to one of my first official events – a boxing match. I was amazed when I came face to face with two opponents I had only known from commercials – Manny Pacquiao, a very famous Filipino boxer, and our own Fernando D. Martinez. I saw in his face that confidence, that he never doubted for a second that he was going to win. Maybe it’s frustrating for others, they tease us that we always talk about what we do and what we can do, that we can do everything. But it’s true, we are just like that and we are proud of it.”