Just a quick FYI, the 4th annual Femcine – or Festival Cine de Mujeres (Women) starts today and runs through Sunday in Santiago. I haven’t been yet, but I’m on my way. Let me know if you have any tips! It’s free to get in, too. You can download the PDF of the films and competition here.
Without yellow underwear, you shall have no love! Chileans have a lot of superstitions and traditions surrounding New Year’s. One of them is to wear yellow drawers or “calzones amarillos” to ensure you find a mate in the upcoming year. Many of them involve midnight, of course. As the clock strikes twelve, there is the usual affection. Everyone hugs and there are lots of kisses going around. After that one must eat either 12 grapes or 12 spoonfuls of lentils representing each month of the year in order to ensure abundance and luck. Some people put a clove of garlic in the wallet or make sure to have cash in hand as the New Year rings in to guarantee sufficient wealth. It is considered lucky if you receive a kilogram of salt as a gift and store it throughout the year. Theoretically this brings abundance. Some people like to dance to Tommy Rey’s song Un Año Más [One More Year] as well. I’m sure there are others, so if you know of another or if you have a good one from your country, please share.
Now what I don’t know is the origin of some of these [garlic – vampires?], which I’m going to try to find out. I’m heading off to La Serena and the Valle de Elqui for the New Year’s week, so I’ll see you in next month.
One more thing, if you’re in Santiago, don’t forget to check out Santiago a Mil going on all over the city in January.
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For years – about 18 of ’em – I always had to work Sundays, so that may be why I just love having those days free now. There is something unsettling about having cranky customers leave a Jesus pamphlet in lieu of a tip while treating you like garbage that can really throw off your […]
Perú Gourmet has kicked off its four day event in Parque Bustamante, one green line train stop from Plaza Italia. It goes through Sunday and I’ll be making my way there tomorrow to what I hope is a Peruvian food heaven filled with bathtubfuls of ceviche, Cusqueña beer pouring out of the clouds and rocotto sauce rivers all around. There are 40 stands to check out, cooking demonstrations and kid fun. If you’re in town, check it out. If not I’ll let ya know how it went. ¡Viva Perú!
Don’t forget, Parque Bustamante – and many other outdoor spaces – will be jam-packed with food, theater, eco-fairs and other activities throughout the summer, so check the calendars for each comuna or read the banners tacked to the poles about town.
Lastly, the 2013 6th annual Movilh hosted LGBT international film festival [Movimiento de Integración y Liberación Homosexual] has begun and continues until October 30th at a number of locations. For programming go here. Oh, it’s totally free, too. Amazing.
FIDOCS, the International Documentary Film Festival in Santiago kicks off this year in 10 days. The website still says the info will be “available soon” with all of the specifics. Check it out! They show films from all over at a number of locations from the 24th through the 30th. Even once the information is up on the site, it’s not a bad idea to call the venue if there is something you are really jonesing to see, as the site can be unreliable. Woo! I’m excited.
