It is beyond trite if I begin today’s post by saying, “pasamos agosto.”
This is what Chileans will say time and time again today, tomorrow and probably for the next week. It is what a bunch of galpals and I will say tonight at the restaurant we coordinated to meet at a full two weeks ago. It’s a celebration of sorts, the worst of the winter is over. Today marks the unofficial beginning of spring, and the month in which the much-celebrated national holiday falls.
But instead of saying “pasamos agosto,” I’d like to say bienveefinido septiembre.
Welcome September with all of your red-white-and-blue bunting on the buildings in the Plaza de Armas and the sausage and greda (terracotta dish) displays in the supermarkets with promotoras wearing the urban huasa outfit, complete with long skirt and giant brimmed chupalla hat.
And I will even give a grand welcome to the season of the cueca, or national dance, which is accompanied by a music I think you had to have grown up with to truly love. It’s whiny and clappy and it makes people move, so that’s good, but the sound will be forever lost on me, and I still don’t know how to dance it.
Welcome September with important birthdays, such as my sister’s my fabulous niece‘s, good friends near and far. Welcome artichokes, and fresh greens and the custardy cherimoya and dropping prices at the market and tomatoes that taste like summer and go very well on toast with cream cheese and seasalt and maybe a little pepper.
Welcome warmer days and quick-dry laundry and nights when you don’t need your guatero (con or sin uñas) to stay warm.
And then, apropos of nothing, other than the fact that a friend of mine and I were recently on the beach and we saw nary a limpet (correction: chiton) in the tidal pools (but a shocking number of sea stars, and quite alot of sea anenomies, though these were closed like glossy plasticine flans), here is a photo I took in Algarrobo several years ago of the clingy lapa (limpet correction: chiton). Bonus Chilenismo lesson: “se me pegó como lapa” means he stuck to me like a chiton.
Strange little creatures. I’ll bet they’re glad it’s September, too.
Don’t forget all the TV programs telling us how to choose our meat and BBQ, in case we forgot from last year!
A couple years ago I took cueca classes at my daughter’s school to participate in the schools “Acto”. I bought a dress, and wore heels! Danced with my husband in front of the whole school, like a gringa! But it was fun, and I must admit I love watching everyone dance, at any opportunity, during September.
And I secretly love seeing men in boots. 🙂
Well Elizabeth, sounds like your secret’s out! And I love the happy convivialness of the holiday, but I don’t eat meat, and don’t drink that much (and definitley don’t drink terremotoes). Have you heard it called SEDtember for how much people drink? Anyway, I’m happy winter is over, hope your people are recovering nicely from recent health whatnot!
And thanks for popping in! (also, didn’t know about the TV progs re: meat, as I don’t watch TV. Bad Chilean X2)
HaHa, I like the Sedtember!
I am on a trying-to-stop-migraine-attacks diet, so no drinking, no MSG, and no food that I can’t see a detailed list of ingredients. I am not really big on meat, but it looks like it will be the only thing 18ish I will be able to eat. sigh.
Oh well, still got the guys in boots!
well, I don’t drink much, and less so when it’s being consumed excessively nearby, and don’t eat meat, so I’m in really bad shape. I hope you get on top of your migraines, that’s no fun!
September 1st is the Chilean somehow equivalent to groundhog day, the day we start seeing winter as a memory, and start thinking in empanadas, asados, wine and spring.
Since we, my girlfriend and I, consider ourselves Chilean groundhogs, september 1st is like a day of celebration for us =), Goodbye winter! Pasamos agosto!
you don’t like bienveeffinido septiembre? I’m as happy as the next person to have September be upon us. I hope neither of you sees your shadow!
After an entire month of empanadas and asados, I can rarely see past my belly, so I can´t see my shadow, hahaha, I love septiembre 😀
glad you’re so glad to have it (september) around. Enjoy your meaty mc meaterson!
Not limpets but chitons, just to be correct, oh I’m a marine biologist 😉
super! thanks for jumping in. I used to call them chitons, but then someone told me they were limpets, and I believed them. Foolish, foolish me. I should have asked you! I’m curious to know how you came upon the blog? were you searching for lapas? limpets? Info on Chile?
I am nwdiver on allchile and have followed your blog for awhile. Where I live it is always summer.
hey NWdiver, I knew you followed because I’ve seen you talk about how you’re pro bearshapedsphere, thanks for that! Thanks for popping in and commenting. So I take it you’re in the north? Good to see you around here!