Colors of Santiago - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

The main feature of Santiago lifestyle and culture is multinationality of the destination. Tourists will be surely much impressed with a unique fusion of various cultures and traditions. Local people are rather moderate and sober minded. They tolerate people of other nationalities and cultures rather well and take strange culture with honor and respect. However local folks value their own culture and traditions above all and carefully protect the culture against the influence of cotemporary trends. Many tourists take this mindset of locals as an extreme of conservatism meanwhile the attitude of the residents towards achievements of modern age is still adequate.

Local residents are rather friendly and welcoming towards foreign guests of the city. They eagerly meet those guests abiding local rules and treating the local culture with respect. It should be noted that the city of Santiago features a rather low level of corruption and crime being a good characteristic feature of local people. Residents of Santiago are good interlocutors being always ready to discuss any relevant topic.

The only tabooed topic for a discussion is politics. The political life of the country should not be criticized and touched upon in a discussion under any conditions. Tourists should keep in mind a negative attitude of locals towards smoking and alcohol consumption as smoking and drinking in public places is banned. Rules violations are commonly followed with heavy fines. Even in the case a public place does not feature any restrictive sign a smoking cigarette and an opened bottle of alcohol drink may stir angriness and outrage. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The resort city of Santiago is annually visited by many tourists thus local folks have got used to plenty of foreigners in the streets. Many of local people have a good command of German and English languages however to show respect towards local culture tourists are advised to learn several phrases in Spanish.

Tourists looking to hunt some memorable original souvenirs from a Santiago vacation will be glad to find a good choice of gifts in local shops and at local market places. Food gifts are among the most popular goods chosen by foreign guests. Exotic fruits and sweets are the most thought after gifts. Among typical souvenirs and gifts bought as a keepsake of the vacation is Santiago tourists will find copperware. Various decorations, talismans and utensils are made of this material. Silver goods are as well bought as souvenirs and memorable gifts. Another popular gift much preferred by tourists is salt lamps which can hardly be found and bought in any other country of the world.

One of the most popular festival in the capital of Chile is the famous event Lollapalooza, the geography of which extends across the globe, including France, the United States of America, Germany, and Brazil. In April, a large-scale musical event “overtakes” Chile. It is held in the picturesque Parque O'Higgins Jardín Chino. The special guests of the festival are always popular rock, metal, punk and hip-hop musicians – both foreign and local. The event has already managed to play host to artists like Fatboy Slim, Deftones, Armin van Buuren, Björk, Skrillex, Red Hot Chile Peppers, Eminem, Die Antwoord – the list will impress even those who are not keen on music at all. In addition to the musical component, during the marking of the festival, visitors can enjoy various activities presented in the park, as well as an excellent gastronomic program.

Santiago was the place of study, life, and death of the outstanding poet Pablo Neruda, who influenced the minds of many famous personalities – including the Argentine Ernesto Che Guevara who read his works. It is not surprising that the literary festival which falls in July is devoted to the great author. By the way, the date chosen is not accidental: it is timed to the birthday of the poet (July 12th). The venue of the festival is the cultural center of La Chascona (the writer’s house-museum). During the festival, thematic excursions are also organized here thanks to which you can learn more about the life of Neruda. The program includes readings and musical concerts, as well as visits of contemporary poets and writers, with whom meets-and-greets are held.

At the end of September, another literary festival is held. We are talking about the event Festival Internacional de Literatur, which brings together three Latin American cities: Buenos Aires, Montevideo and, accordingly, Santiago. Its program includes readings, discussions, performances, master classes, and lectures. Famous foreign and Chilean writers participate in the festival. You will be pleased to learn that you can visit it for free. Gathering places are located along the entire capital of Chile, so during the event, you should follow the billboard. The end of August is the time when a colorful event, Festival Coreógrafos, takes place in Santiago (and more specifically at Teatro Municipal). Here you can listen to music and opera, as well as see amazing tango dance performances – and of course, enjoy your leisure time.

September 18th is traditionally the time for Fiesta Patria – Independence Day, also sometimes called El Dieciocho. At this time, the Chileans remember the events of 1810, when the country broke away from Spain, gaining sovereignty. This is one of those holidays, thanks to which you can get closer acquainted with the local culture: military parades, mass folk festivals accompanied by the folk music of Chile, as well as tastings of local cuisine are as good as possible. The event is held throughout the country, but you can see the most colorful spectacle in the capital. It includes bright fireworks as if turning night into day.

Fans of event tourism will find another musical event interesting. We are talking about an event called Ultra Festival held in the middle of October, in the monumental concert hall Movistar Arena. It brings together hundreds of tourists from around the world who want to listen to high-quality electronic music. This is another festival with vast geography: in addition to the capital of Chile, it is held annually in Miami, Ibiza, and Buenos Aires. It does not go without the headliners, well-known in the world of electronic music, both foreign and Chilean. The popularity of the event is evidenced by the 30,000 people who become visitors to three venues at the Parque O'Higgins Jardín Chino (where the concert hall is located) during musical concerts (one scene is not suitable for this since it can hold only 17,000 spectators).

There are two film festivals held in Santiago that movie fans have probably heard about. At the end of October, you can witness the Santiago Festival Internacional de Cine (also called SANIF for convenience) and watch the latest filmmaking at local cinemas (including those situated in the open-air), first. Both world premiere and new Chilean production are presented here. The inhabitants of Latin America are famous for their “passionate” soul and ability to feel like no other – it is not surprising therefore that even festivals are devoted to the most beautiful feeling on Earth. Consequently, at the end of July, visitors of the film event Festival de Cine de Amor will be the first to see melodramas shot in all parts of the world. The venue for the festival is the Centro Arte Alameda. A romantic sound is added to it by the picturesque Parque O'Higgins Jardín Chino, in which the center is located.