Hello everyone!
Buenos Aires, as well as Argentina, is very diverse. There are many communities that mix the Argentinian culture with their own. In the City of Buenos Aires, there are Armenians, Coreans, Japanese, Jews, and more, and the governors of the city encourage events to celebrate these diversity. The events often have stands with traditional food, and a stage where more about the culture is showcased.
Rosh Hashanah, which literally means “head (of) the year” is the Jewish new year. It marks the first and second day of the Hebrew calendar, this year it started on the 9th of September and will finish on the 11th, marking the start of the year 5779!
A week earlier, the 2nd of september, an event was held in the park Eastern Republic of Uruguay because of Rosh Hashanah. There were stands selling books, handcrafts, sweets and Jewish or Middle East food. And some games to play and meet other people too. It wasn’t organized by the city, but was sponsored by it.
There were kids from Jewish schools giving apples with honey to everyone, a traditional mix of food to eat in the Jewish new year as they symbolize a sweet start of the year.
There were also small acts to enjoy while people ate their food, I was there when the first show started: a Youth Orchestra organized by an institution called AMIA.
Of course, I had to get something to eat, I thought about a bagel, a pastrami sandwich, a shawarma or a kebab with falafels. I ended up opting for the last one, which was a great choice.
This was my second time eating falafels, the first time was some months ago after reading in many posts that so many Local Guides loved them. This time they were served and tasted very differently and, to be honest, they were a lot better than from the first place I had them. If I could I would eat falafels from that place every day, but it’s a shame that they don’t have a store.
So, it was a successful event! It wasn’t too big but in other parts of the park there was a organized walk for women, and a place to leave donations.
As my family is Jewish, this Sunday my grandmother hosted a dinner to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, where I ate more traditional food:
- Apples dipped in honey
- Round Challah, bread dipped in honey, that symbolizes a sweet round year
- Lekach, a honey cake. Like the apples dipped in honey, they symbolize a sweet new year.
- Gefilte fish, a dish made from a mixture of deboned fish. Fish symbolize abundance and prosperity.
Many foods that with different symbolisms can be eaten these days, and others, like ones with sour taste, are avoided.
Thank you for reading! I wish a happy Jewish New Year to everyone who celebrates it.
If you know someone who is Jewish and want to wish them a happy new year, you can also tell them these phrases:
“Shanah tovah”, which is like saying: Have a good year
“Shanah tovah u’metuka”, which is the same as: Have a good and sweet year.
