Uruguay Events and Festivals
Uruguayans love life and love the chance to celebrate it and this shows in the country’s selection of events and festivals, with only one month in the year when there isn’t something of significance being held in some part of the country. Cultural celebrations provide the theme for many events, while the locals’ dedication to their religion means that Catholic festivals also dominate the calendar. The Mardi Gras in Montevideo is the big one and the event that attracts the largest number of visitors.
January
 Feast of the Epiphany:This Catholic festival, known locally as Epifanía, is attached to the Christmas season and is a celebration of the arrival of the Maji at the stable where Christ was born. Uruguayans across the country enjoy a public holiday.
Punta del Este International Jazz Festival: accomplished jazz artists from around the world assemble in Punta del Este for three days of musical performances.
February
 Festival of the Virgen de la Candelaria: this Catholic festival dedicated to the Virgin Mary is celebrated in Uruguay and neighbouring countries. Among various religious rites performed throughout the day, a parade led by bearers carrying a statue of Mary, is the focus.
 Las Llamadas - Mardi Gras Carnival and Parade: Montevideo hosts this major annual spectacle in which the streets become filled with literally thousands of revellers who come to enjoy ‘Las Murgas’ (short street theatre performances) as well as a variety of other festivities.
March
 Festival of the Gaucho Culture:Tacuarembo hosts this cultural event that’s known locally as La Fiesta Patria Gaucha. The indigenous people of the region gather for a variety of proceedings, included in which are a number of horse-related activities such as riding competitions and rodeos. There are parades, displays of cultural dancing and dining on traditional cuisine throughout the festival.
April
Landing Day of the 33 Orientales: this public holiday celebrates the revolt of Uruguayan patriots against Brazil in 1825. The event is considered significant because it was a major step towards the country’s fight for independence.
Uruguay International Film Festival: held in the city of Montevideo since 1982, this annual event sees screenings of movies, documentaries and short films from directors across the globe.
May
 Labour Day: Dia del Trabajador is a public holiday in Uruguay and is considered an important day on which to show solidarity for the rights of workers across the country.
June
 Festival of the Tango Culture: Carlos Gardel is the man accredited with the creation of one of Latin America’s most popular dances and this week-long festival held in his home town is a celebration of the man, the dance and the culture that surrounds both.
 Natalicio de Artigas: José Gervasio Artigas, a man popularly hailed as Uruguay’s greatest national hero, is remembered and honoured on this nationwide public holiday.
July
 Oath of the Constitution: the locals call this national holiday ‘Jura de la Constitución’ and enjoy a day free from work in remembrance of the introduction of the first constitution on July 18th 1830.
August
 Independence Day: the 25th of the month is ‘Dia de la Independencia’, a national holiday on which Uruguayans remember the day that their country declared itself officially independent.
October
 Columbus Day: known locally as Día de la Raza, this is a celebration of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the America’s in 1492. A public holiday is enjoyed across the country.
November
 Day of the Dead: not a Hollywood movie but rather what many Catholic countries refer to as All Souls Day. Locally, this national holiday is known as Dia de los Muertos and is a day on which Uruguayans pay respects to their deceased family members.
December
 Navidad: the Christmas season is extremely significant in Uruguay and is still observed with a definite religious slant and less of the emphasis on commercialism that plagues other countries. Locals attend church for various services during the season as well as enjoying family get-togethers and traditional gift giving practices.
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