Do you want to Help and promote culture?
Pampa Grass 
The Wichi are a calm people in the northern regions of Argentina, traditionally and closely related to nature and what it has to offer. The women gather the "chaguar" plants and turn the natural fiber into organic thread. The earth provides the color for their dyes. At the loom, they weave in the ancient codes of their native artistic expression.
Pampa Grass: Captures the spirit of these nomadic communities, bottling a unique concept specially designed together with the Redes Solidarias Foundation, to help the Wichi women promote their artwork.
Pampa Grass evokes green grass and flowers. Its packaging is made of chaguar by the Wichi women.
Pampa Grass: $ 25.- (pesos argentinos).
Order, questions, suggestions? info@manerasargentinas.com.ar
El Wichi es un pueblo tranquilo, tradicional y estrechamente ligado a la naturaleza y todo lo que ella brinda.
De la fibra del "chaguar" las mujeres extraen la fibra para hacer su hilo. La tierra les provee las tinturas organicas. En el telar, combinan la forma y el color en los codigos de su ancestral expresión artística.
Pampa Grass: evoca el espiritu de estos pueblos originarios que tanto dependen de la tierra. Conjuntamente con la Fundación Redes Solidarias, hemos diseñado este original producto con el fin ayudar a las comunidades Wichi a que promuevan su arte.
Pampa Grass remite a la naturaleza y las flores. El estuche está tejido en Chaguar por las mismas mujeres de la comunidad Wichi (NOA).
Pampa Grass: $ 25.-.
Querés colaborar con las comunidades nativas y su trabajo? Escribinos a info@manerasargentinas.com.ar
Catch a glimpse of the wichi on You Tube
Comments welcome!
Brothers and Enemies: Boca - River
Boca Juniors and River Plate are Argentina´s most renowned football teams, igniting such passion, hate, love, rivalry, envy, admiration... anything but indiference. These two teams divide Argentina´s in two, although rumor hast it that Boca adds up to half the country’s population plus one. Every match they play, a derby called "Super Clásico" is lived with great expectation. It is never overlooked and everyone is anxious over the match and its results.
Both teams are in fact of similar origins as they were both born in La Boca neighbourhood. In 1938 River Plate moved to Palermo, and then to the Nuñez neighbourhood.
Boca became the people's team, the majority of its fans coming from the local Italian immigrant community and is nicknamed "Xeneizes" (from Genoa). River, now at a more fancy neighbourhood earned the nickname of "Los Millonarios" (the millionaires) due to the outrageous sums of money that were paid for some of its players.
So, what about the Superclásico?One side the field is coloured with the red and white flair of River while the other, covered in blue and yellow, the colors of Boca inspired by the Swedish flag of a boat sailing into the port at La Boca. This passionate affair is at its peak on derby day. The fireworks, the screaming and dancing, the teasing and the chanting of the fans, as each group of supporters cheering on its team feverishly.
Boca fans refer to River supporters as 'gallinas' (chickens) because they think River are afraid of everything! The River fans hit back by calling their rivals 'los puercos' (pigs) because their stadium is located in a poor Boca area and is said to smell most of the time!
This match is always an unforgettable experience because Boca-River is not just a football match.
It is the ultimate emotion!
Don´t miss it!
Boca-River, a family affair.
DVD(rare limited edition) US$ 14.99 (plus shipping and handling)
Being Wichi
Since the late 20th Century, we have been experiencing an unprecedented environmental, social and cultural crisis. In the face of the destruction of our ecosystems and increasing social conflict, our belief that higher technology and the pursuit of greater economic development will guarantee our well-being is confronting us with new ideas about ourselves and the world we live in. 
Unexpectedly, the changes that have revolutionized both transport and communications globalize life and are turning countries more and more dependent on the political and economic variables that sustain the very structure of capitalism. However, our current social context also enables us to consider other alternatives. Thanks to the media, we can see the problems that affect our planet, the rise in unemployment, wars, ecological catastrophes, hunger and the spreading of epidemics, in an entirely new dimension. As global awareness sharpens, the environmental and social deterioration we experience limits unmeasured progress and development and leads us to reflect upon how we feel and where we stand in the world around us.
Highly recommended, is a visit to a Wichi village in the northern region of Argentina. On arriving, can you truly understand how dependent these people are on the forest that surrounds them and the river that runs through their territory. They are traditionally and closely related to nature and what it has to offer. This is where they find their food and the raw materials for everything they do and make. While the men are out fishing in the rivers, hunting, or gathering honey, the Wichi women, always with their children by their side, gather fruit in the forests nearby or sit at their looms weaving. For centuries they have used the strong fibers of the "chaguar" plant for weaving nets and making purses and other textile goods. Their art combines form and color in the ancient codes of their native artistic expression and some communities base a substantial part of their economy on the selling of their chaguar handicrafts.
The experience may help us to shake off our indifference towards the “cultural other” and to try, through acts of solidarity, to revert the exclusive and isolated situation in which these communities currently find themselves.
There is a lot we can learn.
¿Mateamos? (Shall we share some mates?)
Mate is not only a beverage it is also part of a ritual with its own codes and language. To become an expert about mate, and to be part of this ritual you better know its language. Here are some explanations on usefull terms and phrases.
Mate (infusion): You can drink the infusion in different ways:
Mate amargo o cimarrón: bitter mate, drank with a metal straw from a shared hollow calabash gourd with hot water and without sugar.
Mate dulce: Sugar or honey are sometimes added if desired, creating a sweet mate. For this mate you use a different guard, it is considered bad for the gourd (especially for the natural (calabash or wood) ones) to be used for mate dulce.
Mate cocido: the yerba mate is homemade, by cooking the yerba mate in hot water, filtered and Drank in a cup, not a guard.
Tereré, mate drank with cold water. It is common in northeastern Argentina, but mainly in Paraguay where the temperaturas are very high, and the this drink is used to refresh the body. It is not absolutely necesary to drink it in a calabash guard, many times is drank in a normal cup or glass.
What do we need to drink a mate?
Mate (container): The Mate is a beberage but it is also a word to designate the container itself...Gourds in which you drink mate with a metal straw (bombilla). The mate container can be made from different materials. The most usual is from calabash.
Bombilla:The bombilla acts as both a straw and a sieve, used to drink mate from the guard. The submerged end is flared, with small holes or slots that allow the brewed liquid in, but block the twigs of the yerba mate.
Pava: Argentine word for kettle. The difference between a pava and a regular kettle is that the spout conteiner is made specially to pour the water in a thin string to the mate.
Termo: thermos to keep the temperature of the water.
Yerba Mate: (botanical word: Ilex paraguariensis) is a species of holly native to subtropical South America in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and southern Brazil. When the yerba is harvested, the branches are dried sometimes with a wood fire. There are many brands and types of yerba, depending on the amount of twigs/ stick (palo) or powder content (polvo). Some types are less strong in flavor (suave, "soft") and there are blends flavored with mint, orange or grapefruit skin...
Insider´s expressions:
Mate lavado: literally means “washed up”, when there is no flavor left in the infusion. You may know it is lavado when you see the twigs flotting in the water.
Mate tapado: when the beberage clogs and through the metal straw (bombilla) you are not able to drink it. If this happens hand it to the cebador and ask him/her to handle it. You must never move the bombilla.
Yerba rendidora/Aguantadora: name given to the yerba mate that may be used for a large amount of mates keeping its properties and taste without change.
Yerbera y azucarera: containers to carry yerba mate and sugar tu prepare the beberage.
Salta a pleno!!!
Festivals and activities during summer
January 8th to 14th in San Carlos - 26°Feria Artesanal de los Valles Calchaquíes (Craft Fair)
San Carlos is located 24 kms. from Cafayate. Local craftsmen, weavers, goldsmiths, and silvershmiths show and sell their work. Genuine art pieces! The Valles Calchaquies is a zone in Salta with a high qualitie of crafts production. You will find textile works, ceramic vases.... Also don´t miss the delicious regional food as humitas, tamales, empanadas! And home made jams and mermelades!!
From January 12th to 14th a folkloric festival will be celebrated, with important musicians of argentine folk music.
January 19th and 20 th – Cachi “Festival de
Cachi is located 157 Kms. away from Salta City. This festival celebrates the traditions of the Calchaquí Valley and Community. You can attend to shows, of folk music and dance.
February, during the first week you may experience the rituals and old traditions of Carnival at
You will live rituals like the exhuming, songs and bagualas contests (baguala is a traditional type of music).
February 19th to 25th – “Serenata de Cafayate”: Cafayate will gleam during this cultural week. You will end the week delighted with the serenade of important salta artists.
Wine, wine, wine…
The most important festivities are held during the lasts weeks of February and beginning of March: the Vendimia Queen Election, The Fruit Blessing (last Friday of February at Mendoza City), The Carrousel... The first Saturday of March, you can assist to the Central Act –a show held in an enormous stage, with hundreds of artists, dancers, musicians, actors, etc.-. A festivitie to eat, dink and be marry!
The Fiesta Nacional de
We recommend you to book your place in advance because it is packed with visitors, specially the last weeks of February and the beginning of March. During this time it is very hard to book hotels, and hotels generally sell you not less than four or five nights. If you want to participate of the most important events, the best is to book from Wednesday to Saturday or Sunday of the first week of March in Mendoza City.
Be aware that it is very difficult to get locations for the Central Act, they are sold out very quickly!
Not every Bodega (Winery) is opened on Sundays, better do the trips to the bodegas other day of the week and leave sunday for rafting activities, or going to the base of the Aconcagua.
Miss Mary
Starring: Julie Christie, Sofia Viruboff, Donald Mc Intire, Barbara Bunge, among others. Directed by: Maria Luisa Bemberg.
life of people who lived in the argentinian field (estancias), through an intense part of our history. It is interesting to see how aristocratic argentine people was educated in european cultures, in this film you will see that the governess only talked to the children of the main family in english. You will find a little “slow” the timing in this film, but do not forget that was filmed in 1986!
I hope you like it.
The Mission - "La Misión"
He is later joined by a reformed Portuguese mercenary, Rodrigo Mendoza (Robert De Niro), who sees the Jesuit mission as a sanctuary and a place of forgiveness for his murder of his brother.
The mission, which was once under Spanish protection, has been handed over to the Portuguese while the Vatican (represented by Papal emissary Alta Mirano) has ordered the Jesuits to withdraw from the territory above the falls.
Eventually, a combined Spanish and Portuguese force attacks the mission, failing to see the simple life of the Guarani as anything but threatening (contrary to Father Gabriel and Mendoza).
Movies are culture
The "Movies" label is to suggest movies that illustrates native and argentine culture. How was our way of living (and sometimes still is), to understand and enjoy argentine history and culture.
For Spanish language students, movies will help them to practice the language, and learn new lunfardo vocabulary.
Photo1: Miss Mary / Photo2: The Mission.
Summer regional events
If you are travelling around argentine provinces and you are specially interested in regional festivities and folklore music. Check the calendar of events so you don´t miss any of them.
Para aquellos que están viajando por el interior del país, que están recorriendo diferentes provincias argentinas y que tienen interés por el folclore, la música y las actividades tradicionales del país. Hay una variada propuesta de festivales de verano en diferentes provincias. Durante las primeras semanas de enero se presentarán la 42a. edición del Festival de Doma y Folklore de Jesús María, en Córdoba, y el Festival Nacional de
El Festival de Doma y Folklore de Jesús María comenzó el viernes 5 de enero y terminará el domingo 14 del mismo mes. Allí se podrá ver conciertos de diferentes grupos y representantes de la música nacional y regional (El Trío San Javier, León Gieco, El Chaqueño Palavecino, Jairo, Soledad y Los Nocheros...) Además, se realizará el Campeonato Nacional de Jineteadas. Las entradas generales serán de ocho a quince pesos.
Para aquellos que estén paseando por Santiago del Estero, el Festival Nacional de
La provincia de Salta también será protagonista de la movida folklórica durante los dos primeros meses de 2007. El 6 y 7 de enero, la localidad de Alemanía dará comienzo a sus actividades con el Festival de las Artesanías. La temporada salteña de festivales se extenderá hasta el 25 de febrero, cuando se realice
En el histórico pueblo de San Carlos se desarrollará la 26a. Feria Artesanal de los Valles Calchaquíes, desde el lunes 8 y hasta el domingo 14. Esta actividad permitirá el encuentro de artesanos y orfebres de la zona..
Cachi, pueblo centenario a
Otros eventos que tendrán lugar en el verano son la 24a. edición del Festival Nacional del Poncho, la 22a. entrega de
Fuente
Para más información sobre estos eventos y cómo llegar a estos lugares, no duden en comunicarse con Maneras Argentinas, info@manerasargentinas.com.ar.
For further information on these events or how to get to these places, please contact Maneras Argentinas: info@manerasargentinas.com.ar
Brief argentine folk glossary:
Bagualeros: baguala musicians.
Chacarera: folk dance and music originated in the northwest of Argentina - specially in Santiago del Estero Province - in the 19th century. The Chacarera is usually played with guitar, violin, accordion and bombo legüero. The name originates from the word "chacra" ("farm"), as it was usually danced in rural areas, but it slowly made its way to the cities of that area.
Doma: Horse taming
Jineteada: Horse riding parade.
Poncho: Simple garment designed to keep the body warm. It is a single large sheet of fabric with an opening for the head and sometimes for the arms. Mainly used by gauchos, and pampa´s inhabitants.
Vino Patero: Wine in which the grape fruit juice is extracted by stepping over the grapes with bare feet.
Social Responsability
Social responsibility claims that an entity whether it is state, government, corporation,organization or individual has a responsibility to society. Many NGOs (non-governmental organization) mean that their role and the responsibility of their members as citizens is to help improve society by taking a proactive stance in their societal role. It can also imply that corporations have an implicit obligation to give back to society.Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is closely linked with the principles of Sustainable Development which argue that enterprises should be obliged to make decisions based not only on financial/economic factors but also on the social, environmental and other consequences of their activities.
Slow Travel
The Slow movement is a cultural shift towToday in the world there have been created more than 80 Slow Cities, with the objective to preserve the original ch
One of the emphasis of the Slow movement, is valuing the cultural heritage. To do this it is important to have a deep conection with the place, the people, the culture, the food, their regional products, etc. And this certainly cannot be achieved when travelling fast in hectic holliday tours that make you jump from one city to another, so you can tell you have visited so many places. 
Argentina
restaurante. Have an ice cream at an heladería, ask for “dulce de leche con dulce de leche and frambuesa”.... Join in for a round of mate with bizcochitos... Take local buses (colectivos) or just walk when going from one place to the other.
8 al 12 de enero: FESTIVAL DE JINETEADA Y FOLCKLORE.
Auténtico campo argentino
En la localidad del Diamante en Entre Ríos se llevará a cabo la 36° edición del Festival Nacional de Jineteada y Folklore, que convoca a las 21 tropillas más destacadas del país y a los mejores jinetes de Argentina, Brasil, Chile y Uruguay.
Recomendamos este evento a todos aquellos que quieran ver un desfile de verdaderos gauchos y chinas que vienen de todas las localidades del interior del país a mostrar sus destrezas, música, danzas, artesanías y comidas.
La artesanía tiene un lugar preponderante dentro del predio, artesanos invitados de varias localidades exponen sus realizaciones en cuero, plata, hilos, astas, paja, chala de maíz, hueso, mimbre. El evento contará con una importante cartelera de espectáculos y un cierre de Los Nocheros.
Para todos aquellos que quieran pasar unos días a puro folclore argentino!
Cómo llegar desde Ciudad de Buenos Aires: Puente Zárate Brazo Largo, tomar Ruta Nacional Nº 12 (a la altura de Ceibas), luego proseguir por Ruta Prov. Nº 11 hasta arribar a la ciudad. Distancia a Diamante: 
http://www.turismoentrerios.com
DIRECCION DE TURISMO - MUNICIPALIDAD DE DIAMANTE
25 DE MAYO Y URQUIZA
___________________________
For those who want to truly engage the spirit of the pampas, and the argentine countryside don´t miss the “Festival Nacional de Jineteada y Folclore” (Nacional Festival of Horsmen and Folclore). In Diamante, Entre Ríos Province,
http://www.turismoentrerios.com
DIRECCION DE TURISMO - MUNICIPALIDAD DE DIAMANTE
25 DE MAYO Y URQUIZA
