6 absolutely iconic cultural aspects of Argentina

[This photo shows people shopping in a street market on a cobbled street in the City of Buenos Aires. In the background there are some typical city buildings and the blue sky, with some white clouds. Photo by Rafael Guimarães, Pexels.]

A country like Argentina, which was reported to hold over 45 million inhabitants at the end of 2020, has many complex cultural aspects. This is not just an empty or vague platitude, either.

It’s just that this “Argentinity“, if it exists at all, has emerged from a country historically made up from different migratory waves, and a melting pot of identities from all over the world.

Culturally speaking, Argentina is undeniably a multicultural society and nation. And in that spirit, this article sets out a tour through 6 absolutely iconic cultural aspects of Argentina.

“The kiss on the cheek is a socially accepted ritual or gesture, used either as a sign of friendship, as a greeting, to congratulate someone, to show respect or simply out of cordiality”. This paragraph opens the Wikipedia collaborative encyclopedia entry if one searches for “kiss on the cheek” in Spanish.

Taking our lead from this definition, it stands to reason that an iconic cultural aspect of Argentina is the cordiality of its inhabitants, since they usually greet each other with a kiss on the cheek, whether they know each other or not.

This custom can be off-putting to foreigners or tourists, but no matter how uncomfortable you may feel, don’t forget that it is a sign of cordiality when you visit the country.

Throughout all of Argentina the food is very rich. Not to mention traditional and cosmopolitan, depending on which city or province you are visiting. As befits a country of immigrants, recipes from different communities have enriched Argentine society alongside typical national dishes. But if you visit Argentina and prefer an early dinner… good luck to you!

Despite health advice to the contrary, Argentines tend not to have dinner before 9 at night. For those who aren’t used to it, this custom has its advantages: if you prefer to dine early, but for some reason you are running late (maybe you went to the cinema, the theater or were delayed in a business meeting), you will be able to find restaurants open late at night in many cities throughout the country .

In Argentina, punctuality is for the English or the Germans. If an Argentine makes someone wait for 15 or 20 minutes, it is nothing out of the ordinary. In fact, per the implied rule, this delay does not even require prior notice. Be patient, Argentines are not unpunctual; they are just fashionably late.

You have heard, reader, about Argentine meat. You will have read tales of its quality -unquestionable, by the way- and of its cuts, its achuras and its grills and restaurants.

But asado is such an iconic cultural aspect because it is so much more than a meal. And it usually takes place in people’s homes, not in fancy restaurants. Asado is a ritual: you light the fire slowly, you drink wine or an aperitif, you welcome your friends or family, you eat something and then, just a few hours later, comes the asado.

As you will see, for Argentines it is an almost transcendental occasion, a communion, a joy: sharing a homemade asado is a true act of love.

The shares of the largest companies in the world fall – an Argentine will be on hand to explain why. The value of a barrel of oil plummets – an Argentine will set out his arguments. The soccer team is knocked out of a major tournament – someone will tell you why they have to fire the manager; another, why it is vital to keep him on in the role.

The counterpoint, the urge to communicate, to debate – these are all typical of Argentines.

Whether the meat is best eaten rare or well-done; whether Borges is the best writer the country has ever produced; whether Diego Maradona was better than Lionel Messi … Passionate discussion is a truly iconic cultural aspect of Argentina.

Scrambled eggs? Bacon? Sausages? None of that. In the morning, for Argentines, there is no time to lose. Typically they will drink mate (a classic infusion based on yerba from Río de La Plata) or coffee, but in the Italian style: no large mugs.

And to eat? Special occasions aside, breakfast usually consists of toast with butter and cheese, jam or the famous local treat, dulce de leche.

Many Argentines will just have a drink before leaving the house in the morning, but in city bars they can round out their breakfast with a classic: medialunas, a local version of the traditional croissant.

This article only covers 6 iconic cultural aspects of Argentina, while many others have been left out. What else to expect from an Argentine author? A sketch, with a hint of whimsy, but written with a smile and the best of intentions!