What is the origin of the gaucho in Argentina?

The word gaucho has its origin in the Quichua and Mapuche “huacho”, which means orphan.

Its origin is the result of the mixture of two civilizations: the European and the natives of what is now Argentina. Possiby the first gauchos were people who breaked their strings with the past and went to the loneliness of the Great Pampa where there was water, grass and livestock. They developed an incredible ability to master the horse, as well as to use the “boleadoras” (three stones linked by a rope that, when thrown, become entangled in the legs of the cattle), the knife, the bow and the appropriate techniques for the salting, method destined to preserve food, of one of the best meats in the world.

On the 6th of December, the National Gaucho Day is celebrated because on that date, in 1872, it was published “El Gaucho Martín Fierro” for the first time. Jose Hernández, from the voice of Martín Fierro, showed the world what the life of the countryman was like, his love for freedom, for his land, his manhood and his courage. The gaucho was a person of great respect and who fulfilled his words, also known for his solidarity which is where the term “gauchada” comes from, which means favor in argentine slang . Today “the current gauchos” carry out activities in estancias, not only in the Pampa plain, but all over the country.

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