Today is September 18th, which is the start of the celebration of the national holiday here in Chile. Usually it is a time with lots of celebration and people going out to see family and friends. There are fondas, which are like fairs with dancing, food, and handicrafts for sale. The weather has warmed up by then, and people are happy wherever you go.
As with almost everything we knew to be normal, the pandemic has changed celebrations this year. Restrictions vary based on the neighborhood, but no matter where you are there are no fondas. Some people that are still in quarantine can’t go out at all, while others can travel around freely as long as they stay in areas that aren’t in quarantine. Then there are neighborhoods in between that can go out by getting a permit. Families have been trying to plan to celebrate in small groups, but I imagine its difficult with restrictions of movement and the number of people that can attend events.
Thinking back over the years, I can safely say that this wasn’t how I expected to be spending my 10th fiestas patrias in Chile. In 2010 it was the bicentennial and a huge year after the earthquake and the miners getting out alive. A friend visited me, and we stayed in Santiago to celebrate. Unfortunately I was pickpocketed and lost my camera, so I don’t have any pictures of the celebrations, but I remember seeing an amazing lightshow at the La Moneda palace. The excitement of the Chileans was infectious, and the novelty made it that much more memorable. I’ve also spent the holiday in Viña del Mar, Chiloe, and San Pedro de Atacama. Other years I have opted to just stay in Santiago and either go out to a fonda or two and a barbecue or two or just stay at home. For anyone that isn’t familiar with Chileans and their social endurance, they can celebrate for days on end and stay at parties for 6, 8, 10, or even 12 hours before going home.
So how am I going to celebrate this year?
First of all, I cancelled all my classes for yesterday through Sunday in order to give myself a much-needed break. I’m not going to any in-person celebrations, but I had a virtual Zoom party with friends in Chile and the United States. Yesterday I went for a bike ride for the first time in a few months, and while I am anxious about going out and getting sick I do feel safe riding my bike. On that ride I delivered a very belated birthday gift to José Luis that I do the podcast with, and he was the first friend I’ve seen in person since the pandemic started in mid-March. Other than that, it will be nice to stay at home, enjoy some sun on the balcony, clean and declutter (one of my never-ending tasks), and take some time to reflect on what I want to accomplish by the end of the year.
While this isn’t the fiestas patrias that we were expecting, Chileans have learned to endure and overcome obstacles. I’m sure that this will be true with the pandemic.
Happy September 18th everyone!
