Chile’s Independence Day is on September 18, and Chileans around the world look forward to the date as a time to celebrate the country’s independence and spend time with friends and family.
Whether you’re a Chilean who will be abroad during Independence Day in Chile, a visitor who plans to visit Chile for the holiday, or just curious about Chilean Independence Day celebrations, this guide created by our team at Remitly is for you. In it, we’ll examine the history of Chile Independence Day and discuss how people celebrate inside and outside the country.
A brief history of Chilean Independence Day
Like many Latin American countries, Chile was once a colony of Spain. During the 16th century, Spain invaded the area known today as Chile, taking power away from the chiefs of local indigenous tribes.
Called conquistadors, the invaders established encomiendas, outposts where indigenous people were forced to perform agricultural work and other tasks without pay. The fruits of their slave labor helped enrich the conquistadors and their benefactors back home.
In the New World, things began to change during the late 18th century. After the United States of America declared its independence and won the right to self-govern through its victory in the Revolutionary War, the people living in other colonies began to imagine independence for themselves.
At the same time, Spain became embroiled in a brutal war back home after the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte of France invaded Spain in 1808. The resulting Peninsular War between France and Spain would continue until 1815, meaning Spanish troops were occupied back home.
Knowing that Spain’s military might was needed in Europe, revolutionaries in Chile began to send out the call for revolution. Many Chileans were upset at the idea of paying taxes to France, and corruption among the colonial government deepened resentments that had been growing over the last 300 years.
Neighboring countries provided inspiration for Chilean revolutionaries. Argentina and Ecuador declared themselves independent of France, stating that they would remain free until Ferdinand VII was reinstalled as the Spanish King.
On September 18, 1810, Chile followed suit. A junta representing Chile declared the country’s independence from France, swearing allegiance to Ferdinand VII.
Opinions on the move were mixed. While nearly universal hatred existed for France, some Chileans believed the declaration didn’t go far enough. They wanted complete independence from colonial rule, not to promise to return to being subjects of Spain after the Peninsular War ended.
A group of rebels led by Bernardo O’Higgins began actively fighting against Spanish troops in the area. Once the Peninsular War ended, Spain set its sights on reclaiming Chile, marking the start of the Reconquista.
During this time, suspected rebels were imprisoned in insurrectionary camps, and many people faced persecution. The actions of the Spaniards made more Chileans rally for freedom, and in 1817, forces led by O’Higgins and José de San Martin attacked Spanish troops during the Battle of Chacabuco. After defeating the Spanish troops there, the rebels continued, fighting other battles to liberate Chile.
On February 12, 1818, the final Spanish stronghold fell to the rebels, and Chile was finally free of Spanish rule.
Soon after, people began celebrating the formation of Chile’s first governing body, which was formed on September 18th. Chileans refer to it as Fiestas Patrias, which means “Homeland Parties” in Spanish.
5 fun facts about Independence Day in Chile
Independence Day is a beloved holiday in Chile. Here are five interesting facts about it.
1. People spend the day dancing
Nothing says party like dancing does, and Chileans love to get up and move to the music to celebrate their country’s independence. Across the country, people perform the cuenca, which has been the national dance of Chile since 1979.
You’ll see people dancing the cuenca at informal gatherings in many towns and villages. Large cities often host dancing competitions in honor of Independence Day.
2. The sky becomes colorful
Look up in Santiago, Valparaiso, or Concepcion, and you’ll likely see colors filling the sky on Independence Day. Many Chilean families head out to parks to fly brightly colored kites in honor of Fiestas Patrias.
3. Everything closes
In some countries, certain businesses stay open on Independence Day despite it being a national holiday. That’s simply not the case in Chile.
All schools and offices close in honor of the occasion, and shops and restaurants also shut their doors. While emergency services are still available, nearly everything else will be closed across the country so people can celebrate.
4. It’s a really big deal
You can’t overstate the importance of Chile’s Independence Day. The holiday rivals Christmas in terms of its importance. In fact, some Chileans actually rank Independence Day as being even more important than the winter holidays.
5. Another important holiday comes right after it
The day after Chile’s Independence Day, September 19, is also a national holiday called the Day of the Glories of the Army. On this day, Chileans pay tribute to the might of the rebel forces that defeated Spain.
In some years, the government of Chile has extended the holiday. In both 2007 and 2017, people were given Friday, September 17, off to create an extra long weekend.
How does Chile celebrate Independence Day?
Chilean families typically make plans to celebrate Independence Day together. Let’s take a look at some of the most common activities people look forward to each year.
Parties in the ramadas
In many cities and towns, parties are organized in ramadas, open-air buildings that have dance floors under thatched roofs. People gather there to dance the cuenca and enjoy delicious foods like empanadas and anticuchos skewers.
Drinking is common at open-air parties. People sip wine, pisco, and beer, as well as chica, a fermented drink made of grapes or apples. Another popular beverage is pipeño, a sweet wine fermented in a clay jug. You’ll also see people drinking terremotos, which is pipeño mixed with grenadine and pineapple sorbet.
Attending fondas
Fondas are another fun part of Chile’s Independence Day celebrations. These carnivals spring up in many cities, and the largest is found at Parque O’Higgins in Santiago.
The carnivals have cuenca contests and fun games like sack racing and climbing greased poles. Fireworks and kite-flying also frequently occur, and vendors sell tasty foods and drinks to attendees.
People attending fondas often dress as huaso, Chilean cowboys found in rural areas. Their attire is considered a sort of national costume in Chile, and donning it pays tribute to Chilean history.
Flying flags
Nearly every home in Chile will be decked out with the Chilean flag on Independence Day.
Formally adopted on October 18, 1817, the Chilean flag has one long red stripe that symbolizes the blood shed by rebels during the battles for independence.
A smaller white stripe above represents the snow-capped peaks of the Andes mountains, and a blue canton in the left corner corresponds to the sky. Inside the canton is a white star that symbolizes what led Chile down the path of progress.
Vacationing
Because most people have days off for Chile’s Independence Day, many people choose to take trips for the holiday. In fact, an estimated 2 million Chileans will take trips during the holiday.
Chile Independence Day celebrations in the U.S.
Around 190,000 Chileans live in the U.S., and these expats contribute to the unique cultural melting pot that makes the United States unlike any other country in the world.
It’s common to find Chile Independence Day celebrations in areas with large Chilean-American populations. Here’s a look at some of the most well-known ones.
New York City
In New York City, the Seaport Museum holds a celebration in honor of Chile’s Independence Day. The fun includes a fonda with games, dancing, and performances. Chilean wine and finger foods are served to attendees.
Miami
In Miami, the Chile-US Chamber of Commerce organizes an annual celebration for Fiestas Patrias. It’s usually held at a local hotel and includes live music, dancing, and other entertainment.
Los Angeles
The Chilean Consulate of Los Angeles typically throws a party in honor of Chilean Independence Day. The events often include rodeos, a huge outdoor barbecue, and cuenca dancing to live music.
San Francisco
San Francisco has a large Chilean population, and the city is often home to at least one Fiestas Patrias party as a result. In the past, the Chilean deli and coffee shop Chile Lindo Live! has organized events for Chilean Independence Day.