CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR IN ARGENTINA
Traditional images of Christmas show snowmen, mince pies, snuggling before a roaring fire, and warmly wrapped Santa Claus, but December is the start of the summer holidays in Argentina, so Christmas is HOT! (think 30°C / 86°F).
The city is decorated with fairy lights, traditional Christmas trees and all the trimmings. Christmas decorations go up on December 8th (Festival of Immaculate Conception) and come down on January 6th (Three Kings Night), when children put out hay, water and cookies for the Magi and their camels.
One of the largest Christmas trees in the city is in Galerias Pacifico mall on Florida street, decorated with more than 8000 Swarovski crystals, and the emblematic Obelisk on 9 de Julio Avenue is also decorated.
Argentina is a catholic country, therefore Christmas centres around religion and families celebrate on Christmas Eve, rather than Christmas Day by getting together for a cold buffet, opening presents (whoever plays Santa has a sweltering time of it!) and attending Midnight Mass, after which it is party time!
Midnight pool parties are popular, and dance parties go on until the early hours.
For the New Year, it is traditional to wear pink and to eat 12 grapes at midnight, to attract prosperity.
A wide variety of open-air bars and terraces (Palermo neighbourhood overflows with them) provide wonderful opportunities to celebrate and make new friends enjoying the warm evenings with a cold drink or glass of champagne, or dining al fresco in one of the many excellent restaurants in Puerto Madero area.
Most top hotels have special parties for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, with lavish menus, champagne toasts and revelries extending till late. Reservations for these events need to be made well in advance, as they are always popular. The Faena Hotel, in particular, gives very original parties, the Park Hyatt Hotel has a wonderful fairy-light-lit terraced garden, the Alvear Palace goes to town with its gala evening, and the Hilton hotel takes on a jazz vibe.
One of the more original ways of celebrating the New Year in Buenos Aires is to attend a tango show. Most traditional tango halls have special parties which include transfers to and from hotels (very useful if your clients want to enjoy the bar), a typical Argentine 3-course meal with wine, a special tango show, champagne to toast the new year, and a dance party afterwards. Gala Tango and Rojo Tango also offer an open bar, and Madero Tango includes a firework display on the dock and breakfast at sunrise.
Given the lavishness and extent of the Eve’s parties, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day are usually very quiet (as everyone is sleeping). Most shops and businesses are closed, and these are two of the only days in the year when shopping malls are also shut. There are no exchange houses available on these days either, so clients should make sure to plan accordingly. Shops and restaurants tend to start opening in the afternoon and evening. It is advisable to make reservations or check beforehand if specific activities are available.
If your clients are into jogging/running, the San Silvestre marathon takes place on December 31st from 8 am, consisting of 8k starting out from the Obelisk in the centre of town and travelling through different parks. This year, vanguardist artist Marta Minujin has designed the T-shirts, which will be a special memento of Buenos Aires.
These are good days to either travel, if you are going on to another city in Argentina, or explore the city on foot. The Palermo Parks and Ecological reserve in Puerto Madero are good spots to enjoy the green, but clients should not forget to hydrate and wear sunscreen. A good option is to choose to stay at a hotel with a pool (the Four Seasons has a lovely one) to relax by.
For more information on travel to Argentina with Argentina Travel Partners please contact: katrina@americas.co.uk
