Everything about Gaucho totally explained
Gaucho (
gaúcho in
Portuguese) is a term commonly used to describe residents of the
South American
pampas,
chacos or
Patagonian
grasslands, found principally in parts of
Argentina,
Uruguay,
Southern Chile and
Rio Grande do Sul state in
southern Brazil. In Brazil it's used to designate people born in state of
Rio Grande do Sul.
The word
gaucho could be described as a loose equivalent to the
North American "
Cowboy". Like the North American word
cowboy,
Venezuelan or
Colombian
llanero, or Chilean
huaso, or the Mexican
vaquero, the term often connotes the
19th century more than the present day; then gauchos made up the majority of the rural population, herding cows and practicing hunting as their main economic activities.
There are several conflicting hypotheses concerning the origin of the term. It may derive from the
Quechua huachu (Indian, from the Indies) . The first recorded uses of the term date from around the time of
Argentine independence in 1816.
History
Gauchos were generally nomadic and lived on the
pampas, the plain that extends north from
Patagonia, bounded on the west by the
Andes and extending as far north as the Brazilian state of
Rio Grande do Sul. Residing outside of the growing urban centres and farming settlements, these skilled riders lived off the land often willingly sharing their food with other travelers. Most gauchos were either
criollo (South Americans of
Spanish ancestry) or
mestizo (of mixed Spanish and
Native American blood), but the term applies equally to people of other
European,
African, or mixed ancestry.
Some gauchos were recorded as being in the
Falkland Islands (External Link
), and have left a few Spanish words in the local dialect for example
camp from
campo.
The gaucho plays an important symbolic role in the nationalist feelings of this region, especially that of Argentina and Uruguay. The epic poem
Martín Fierro by
José Hernández used the gaucho as a symbol against corruption and of Argentine national tradition, pit against Europeanising tendencies. Martín Fierro, the hero of the poem, is drafted into the Argentine military for a border war, deserts, and becomes an outlaw and fugitive. The image of the free gaucho is often contrasted to the slaves who worked the northern Brazilian lands. Further literary descriptions are found in
Ricardo Güiraldes'
Don Segundo Sombra.
Like the North American cowboys, gauchos are generally reputed to be strong, honest, silent types, but proud and capable of violence when provoked. There is, perhaps, more of an air of melancholy about the classic gaucho than the classic cowboy.
Also like the cowboy, the gauchos were great horseriders. Typically, a gaucho's
Horse constituted most of what he owned in the world. During the wars of the 19th century in the
Southern Cone, the
cavalries on all sides were composed almost entirely of gauchos. In Argentina, gaucho armies such as that of
Martín Miguel de Güemes, slowed Spanish advances. Furthermore, many
caudillos relied on gaucho armies to control the Argentine provinces.
The gaucho diet was composed almost entirely of beef while on the range, supplemented by
yerba mate, an herbal tea-like drink rich in caffeine and nutrients. Argentine cooking draws influence from the simple but delicious recipes used in gaucho meals.
Gauchos dressed quite distinctly from North American cowboys, and used
boleadoras (three leather bound rocks tied together with approximately three feet long leather straps) in addition to the familiar "North American"
lariat or riata. The typical gaucho outfit would include a
poncho (which doubled as saddle blanket and also as sleeping gear), a
facón (large knife), a
rebenque (leather whip), and loose-fitting trousers called
bombachas, belted with a
tirador, or a
chiripá, a piece of cloth used in the fashion--but not the function--of a diaper. Several of these items were British imports into the area; for example,
bombachas were originally made in Turkey. In the wintertime, gauchos wore heavy wool ponchos to protect against cold.
Modern influences
Gaucho is also the common denomination of the current inhabitants of the Brazilian State of
Rio Grande do Sul. An example is the Brazilian
football player
Ronaldinho, known by Brazilian people as Ronaldinho Gaúcho, as he was born in that State. The term is also used to identify some groups of people who live in other states of the southern half of
Brazil,
Argentina, and
Uruguay. For those people evoking this denomination usually has the purpose of expressing the pride one has for its origins as
immigrants to untouched lands and for the hard-working nature it represents.
Gauchito (a boy in the Argentine colors and a gaucho hat) was the
mascot for the
1978 FIFA World Cup.
In Popular Culture
Further Information
Get more info on 'Gaucho'.
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