Sep 18, 2023
Chile National Day 2023
This Doodle’s Key Themes
Today’s Doodle celebrates Chile’s National Holidays! On this day in 1810, Chile took a pivotal first step toward becoming independent from Spain by creating the Primera Junta de Gobierno (First Assembly Board).
Also known as Fiestas Patrias or Dieciocho, countless celebrations take place nationwide to commemorate Chile’s hard-won independence. Some patriotic parades feature huasos (Chilean cowboys) who stroll by to music, while the grand military and naval parades will march on the Day of the Glories of the Army tomorrow. The blue, white, and red Chilean flag flutters in the breeze next to businesses, homes, and festival tents on both holidays. Those gentle spring winds also make today popular for kite flying and other outdoor gatherings.
Parties called fondas are open to the public, complete with patriotic decorations, dancing, games, and refreshments like empanadas de pino, choripan, and anticuchos. The cueca, Chile’s national dance, is commonly performed. People throughout the country wear traditional clothing like colorful swishy dresses, “chupallas”, and riding boots with spurs. There are many traditions in Chile and the three-legged pigs, as seen in today’s Doodle artwork, are another uniquely-Chilean custom. It is traditional to give away and collect three-legged pigs as they’re believed to be good luck and abundance. The pigs in the Doodle represent the towns of Pomaire (known for its red clay pottery) and Quinchamalí (known for its black clay, with white drawings).
Happy National Holidays, Chile!
Check out the behind-the-scenes process for
today’s Doodle artwork sculpted by Doodler Sophie Diao
Work in progress red clay pig
Clay pigs getting fired in the oven before painting
Where this Doodle appeared
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