The flag of Chile consists of two equal-height horizontal bands of white and red, with a blue square the same height as the white band in the canton, which bears a white five-pointed star in the center. It was adopted on 18 October 1817. The Chilean flag is also known in Spanish as La Estrella Solitaria. It is the only flag in South America whose design was influenced by the flag of the United States.
Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme was a Chilean independence leader who freed Chile from Spanish rule in the Chilean War of Independence. He was a wealthy landowner of Basque-Spanish and Irish ancestry. Although he was the second Supreme Director of Chile (1817–1823), he is considered one of Chile's founding fathers, as he was the first holder of this title to head a fully independent Chilean state.
This is a list of public holidays in Chile; about half of them are Christian holidays.
The following are the national public holidays and other observances of Argentina.
Fernando de Errázuriz y Martínez de Aldunate, also known as Fernando Errázuriz Aldunate, was a Chilean political figure. He served as provisional president of Chile in 1831.
In Mexico, there are three major kinds of public holidays:
Public holidays in Panama include:
O'Higgins Park, covering approximately 75 hectares, is Santiago, Chile's second largest public park after Metropolitan Park. It is situated in the center of the capital city, within the Santiago Commune.
The Chilean War of Independence was a military and political event that allowed the emancipation of Chile from the Spanish Monarchy, ending the colonial period and initiating the formation of an independent republic.
The Crossing of the Andes was one of the most important feats in the Argentine and Chilean wars of independence, in which a combined army of Argentine soldiers and Chilean exiles invaded Chile crossing the Andes range separating Argentina from Chile, leading to Chile's liberation from Spanish rule.
Fiestas Patrias is a Spanish phrase meaning "Patriotic Holidays" or "National Holidays". It may refer to:
Chilean cuisine stems mainly from the combination of traditional Spanish cuisine, Chilean Mapuche culture and local ingredients, with later important influences from other European cuisines, particularly from Germany, the United Kingdom and France. The food tradition and recipes in Chile are notable for the variety of flavours and ingredients, with the country's diverse geography and climate hosting a wide range of agricultural produce, fruits and vegetables. The long coastline and the peoples' relationship with the Pacific Ocean add an immense array of seafood to Chilean cuisine, with the country's waters home to unique species of fish, molluscs, crustaceans and algae, thanks to the oxygen-rich water carried in by the Humboldt Current. Chile is also one of the world's largest producers of wine and many Chilean recipes are enhanced and accompanied by local wines. The confection dulce de leche was invented in Chile and is one of the country's most notable contributions to world cuisine.
The Chilean Declaration of Independence is a document declaring the independence of Chile from the Spanish Empire. It was drafted in January 1818 and approved by Supreme Director Bernardo O'Higgins on 12 February 1818 at Talca, despite being dated in Concepción on 1 January 1818. The ceremony of independence was performed on 12 February 1818, the first anniversary of the Battle of Chacabuco.
Patria Nueva was a period in the history of Chile that began with the victory of Ejército de los Andes in the Battle of Chacabuco on 12 February 1817 and ended with the resignation of Bernardo O'Higgins as Supreme Director in 1823.
La Grandiosa Bertita is a Chilean fonda that is set up during the Fiestas Patrias in O'Higgins Park in Santiago, Chile. Its significance lies in the fact that for seven years, it was selected to inaugurate the city's traditional ramadas in a ceremony attended by authorities such as the President of Chile and the Mayor of the Santiago municipality, earning it the title of "official fonda of O'Higgins Park."
Fondas, also known as ramadas or chinganas, are temporary establishments in Chile that emerge during the Fiestas Patrias, a national celebration held in September. These venues offer a wide array of food and beverages to the public. One of the most renowned fondas is La Grandiosa Bertita, situated in O'Higgins Park, Santiago, Chile.
The Chilean honours system provides a means for the Government of Chile to reward gallantry, achievement, or service, by both Chileans and non-citizens. The honours system consists of three types of award: orders, decorations and medals. Membership of an Order is conferred to recognise merit in terms of achievement and service. Decorations are conferred to recognise specific deeds of gallantry, bravery, distinguished or meritorious service. Medals are conferred to recognise long and/or valuable service and/or good conduct. Awards to non-citizens are usually only made where the gallantry, achievement or service has advanced Chilean interests in some way. The honours conferred by the Chilean Republic can be divided into two groups: civil and military. Military honours are conferred by the different branches of the Armed Forces of Chile. Civil honours are conferred by the President of Chile or, in some instances, by the government minister relevant to the particular honour.
For more than a century the Military Parade of Chile or Great Military Parade of Chile has been a tradition within the Independence Day holidays in Chile. It is held in Santiago, Chile's O'Higgins Park on September 19 yearly in honor of the Glories of the Chilean Army with a military parade involving not just the ground forces but by the rest of the Chilean Armed Forces: the Chilean Navy, the Chilean Air Force, and the Carabineros de Chile. It is also in honor of the anniversary of the formal inauguration on that day in 1810 of the First Government Junta, which witnessed the first military parade of the independent nation at the Plaza de Armas, Santiago. It is the final act of the national independence celebrations, which are broadcast through TV and the Internet and radio.
The Pampilla Festival is a Chilean celebration that takes place between 18 and 20 September every year in honor of the country's Fiestas Patrias – although it usually extends two days before or two days after those dates – in the esplanade of the same name, located in the city of Coquimbo. During this period, even weeks before activities begin, hundreds of families settle in tents and vehicles in the hills.
Terremoto is a traditional Chilean cocktail created at the end of the 20th century. It can be recognized as a derivative of punch to the Roman style. The name, which literally means earthquake, is due to the fact that it was invented after the 1985 earthquake in Chile. Although its origin is not confirmed and many claim its creation, this drink has been widely popularized in Chilean popular culture by the bars La Piojera, Rincón de los canallas, and El Hoyo.
