Xmas in Argentina

Christmas here in Argentina is only celebrated on Christmas Eve.
They inherited that from their European roots. It's sensible too in a southern hemisphere climate in December with average 30ºC to plan a festive (hot) meal with lots of alchohol for around 10:30pm. I like that. And of course this custom agrees with us completely, as we always have celebrated Xmas on the 24th December too!

Most companies are closed on the 24th & all shops are shut up tight by 1pm. BA was like a GHOST TOWN!! All the shutters were rolled down tight, even the dogs knew it was SIESTA time. It was an ominous warning to prepare for a l-a-t-e night. And it was the 4th hot day in a row, at 35ºC that day. We'd been told that at midnight residents let off some firecrackers, usually outside their homes on the street because there's no traffic moving about on that night. And that it was worth us going for a walk outside around midnight but to keep a keen eye on the skies above our heads, for falling (lit) debris. And of course nothing exists here like a fire ban system. Yikes!

After a very tasty fish dinner a deux prepared expertly by 'husband' with a bottle of French bubbles, we were just finishing our meal when the skies began to light up. The audio level escalated in about 5 minutes from near post-apocalyptic stillness to moderate MAYHEM! It was wonderful from our balcony !!! Went on for a solid hour. We ventured downstairs at around 12:20am & into the middle of the smokey street to see what was actually happening in the 'hood. As there was no traffic AT ALL it was amazing to be standing in the centre of the street & be able to see about a half km in both directions. In front of every 3rd house, in the centre of the street, there was a huddle setting off fireworks of all sorts. Not just little Tom Thumbs either! There were lots of very serious rockets & quite spectacular type explosions.

It turns out that anybody can buy any type of fireworks at all. No rules apply! You even can buy them from the corner shops during December! Kids spend all year saving up for their 'stash of fireworks'. School breaks up here for the end of the year only a few days prior to Xmas Eve, so it's a highly anticipated activity for release of pent up emotions. Much applause from the elderly onlookers after each successful singular explosion. Cute. And a good way to pass the time for digestion from the plentiful festive meal just finished :)

Periodically we heard explosions until daylight. Made me smile, even as it continually woke me up. We had just gone to bed, when at around 2:30am, VERY LOUD music started up! We were incredulous. Where could that be coming from? Sounded like weekend level of volume from the Salsa Club next door, only closer. Besides we knew the club had closed a few days earlier, until March - all their patrons gone to the coast for the holls. We get out of bed & head back out to the balcony: there, in our own apartment block back garden, some groovy young neighbours are hosting a very late Xmas Eve poolside party!! And the pumping latin dance music (Shakira) was coming from a serious audio system down by the poolside bar-b-que, which had been decorated with bunches of red & green balloons. WHEN? There were about 20 white leather seating cubes with a few matching lounges also placed on the poolside grass & a pretty serious looking bar set up. We figured the 40 groovy young 20-something things were not going away anytime soon, so after a quick dance we went back to bed, chuckling & passed out. I woke up again some hours later & it was just pre-dawn, music was still going but at about half-volume. I got up for a pee & was kind of confused. Splashing? Pounding in my head. Yes. Yes. Splashing! ... Everybody was now in the pool, of course! 1 glance over the balcony confirmed that the party had been in full swing all 'morning' & was now wrapping up. A party that STARTED at 2:30 am & went until dawn when everybody, now shitfaced ended up in the pool. After that row of hot, hot days we'd had it occurred to me that those exact hours would be the best time to hold a poolside bar-b-que Xmas party. BRILLIANT!

Then .... SILENCE! We slept. ALL DAY. Followed by a very quiet night in the 'hood. Even the dogs knew not to bark. I like Xmas in Argentina.