Health
Argentina is ranked 49th out of 191 countries for the general functioning of its health system, according to a report by the World Health Organization. [85] Health care is guaranteed by the public health system, the social work system, and the private health system. Around 37.6% of the population is served by the public system and 51.52% by social works. The regulation of attention to health problems is in charge of the Ministry of Health and Environment, dependent on the Executive Power. The percentage of health spending corresponding to GDP was 8.9% in 2003. [86] In addition, the country has a favorable ratio of 3.01 doctors per thousand residents. [87] The diseases that most affect the population are Chagas disease,AIDS and tuberculosis.
Culture
Argentine culture is marked by the multiethnic and multicultural character of its population, the strong syncretism of its forms of expression, and a positive assessment of progress and modernity, in which a dual sense of belonging to European and Latin American cultures. The Argentine writer Ernesto Sabato has reflected on the nature of Argentine culture in the following way:
With the primitive Spanish-American reality fractured in this La Plata basin by immigration, its residents become something dual, with all the dangers but also with all the advantages of that condition: because of our European roots we intimately link the interior of the nation with enduring Old World values; Because of our condition as Americans, through the interior folklore and the old Castilian that unifies us, we are linked to the rest of the continent, feeling in some way the vocation of that Great Homeland that San Martín and Bolívar imagined. [88]
Argentine culture is marked by the multiethnic and multicultural character of its population, the strong Syncretism of its forms of expression, and a positive assessment of progress and modernity, in which a dual sense of belonging to European and Latin American culture. The Mexican poet Octavio Paz once said that ” Argentines are Italians who speak Spanish and think they are French.”
Literature
Argentine literature occupies a prominent place within literature in Spanish, with exponents from the late nineteenth century such as José Hernández (author of Martín Fierro, translated into more than 70 languages), or the twentieth century, such as Jorge Luis Borges, Julio Cortázar, Adolfo Bioy Casares, Ernesto Sábato and Juan Gelman (except Cortázar, all of them won the Miguel de Cervantes Prize).
Museums and performance halls
The most outstanding museums are the National Historical Museum of Argentina and the MALBA, where painting and sculpture exhibitions are held. The paleontological museums of Patagonia (Trelew, Plaza Huincul, etc.) are also very important; the Jesuit ruins of San Ignacio, in Misiones; the Argentine Theater of La Plata; the summer cultural activity in Mar del Plata and Villa Carlos Paz; and popular festivals and festivals such as the Cosquín Festival in Córdoba and the Tantanakuy in Jujuy.
In Buenos Aires there are around 100 cinemas and 90 theaters, with an abundant billboard of shows. The capital of Argentina is also distinguished in the presentation of shows or artists of international renown. There are, among others, cultural centers such as Borges, Recoleta or San Martín. The Teatro Colón is one of the most important lyrical theaters in the world. Other important theaters are the National Cervantes Theater or the General San Martín Theater. In other cities there are important cultural centers, such as the Argentine Theater in La Plata, the Patio de la Madera in Rosario, or the Teatro del Libertador General San Martín (ex Rivera Indarte) in Córdoba.
Gastronomy
The Gastronomy Argentina is mainly known for the meat vaccine and wines, as well as a vast array of foods of all kinds at relatively low prices. It can be considered basically configured on the food cultures of the pre-Columbian Andean and Guarani civilizations, and later colonial, although the main characteristic of Argentine cuisine has Italian and Spanish influence.
Milk production and consumption is very important, consuming around 240 liters per person per year. The existence of large milk availabilities has resulted in a high consumption of derived foods such as Cheese, having 8 own cheeses and dulce de leche, among others.
Among the sweets, the alfajor is a product widely consumed and produced with multiple regional variables. The same happens with ice cream, especially with the Italian type, although since the time of the Spanish colony there was some fondness for sorbet type ice creams.
The characteristic drink that it shares with other neighboring countries is a pre-Columbian infusion of Guaraní origin prepared with Yerba Mate leaves, which is a plant native to South America called Mate. Mate can also be prepared as a tea, in this case being called cocido mate.
Sports
The national sport is “duck”, which began to be practiced in the country at the beginning of the 17th century. In 1941 the Argentine Federation was founded and in 1953, due to history, popular roots and tradition, it was declared a National Sport. However, it is currently almost unknown to most of the population. [101]
The football is the sport that is practiced and has surpassed all disciplines in the taste of the Argentineans. A member of FIFA, the Argentina Soccer Team has participated in most of the World Championships, becoming champion twice, in 1978 in Argentina and in 1986 in Mexico, as well as becoming runner-up twice in 1930 in Uruguay and in 1990 in Italy. He also won the gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2008 Beijing Olympics, as well as 14 championships at the America’s Cup.
Soccer player Diego Armando Maradona is considered one of the greatest exponents in the world history of this sport. He scored the so-called Goal of the Century. For his part, Lionel Andrés Messi is an Argentine soccer player who since 2009 has been considered by various sports organizations, [102] [103] by various soccer players, [104] [105] [106] technical directors [107] [108] 266 and the press in general, 267 268 269 270 as “the current best player in the world.”
In boxing, Argentina has stood out with more than 30 boxers who achieved world titles. Carlos Monzón was the middleweight world champion between 1970 and 1977. They also obtained 7 gold, 7 silver and 10 bronze medals at the Olympic Games.
The basketball has a rich history in the country: Argentina was world champion in 1950. However, in the 1960s and 1970s was becoming less important. With the creation of the National League in 1984, it recovered and gained in popularity. The irruption of Emanuel Ginobili in the NBA, and the great performances of the Argentine National Team at the international level, contributed to a greater following by the public. In 2002, the National Team directed by Rubén Magnano reached the final of the World Championship in Indianapolis, fourth place at the 2006 Japan World Championship, and won the gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, the most important title in its history.
As a country located in South America according to HYPERRESTAURANT.COM, Argentine tennis players have won many awards since Guillermo Vilas’ irruption in men’s tennis in the 1970s and Gabriela Sabatini in women’s tennis in the 1980s and 1990s. At the same time, some Argentine tennis players have had outstanding achievements such as David Nalbandian, who became champion of the 2005 Masters; Juan Martín Del Potro who was champion of the US Open in 2009; Gastón Gaudio, who was Roland Garros champion in 2004, in an Argentine final against Guillermo Coria; and Paola Suárez, who won a bronze medal in women’s doubles at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, as well as 4 Roland Garros doubles tournaments. In the World Team Cup Argentina won the title three times, the last in 2007.
National holidays
Holidays in Argentina are classified into holidays and non-working days. These can be national, provincial or municipal, or be exclusive to a labor or educational branch. Likewise, there are various anniversaries not classified as holidays, in which events generally of a contemporary nature are remembered and which may include social activity or media coverage, but which remain as working days. National holidays include Catholic Church holidays, civic festivals, commemorations, and tourist holidays. There are holidays that always fall on the same day each year and others that are mobile. Some holidays are transferable to a Monday for tourism promotion reasons. National non-working days include Holy Thursday and specific days for Jewish and Muslim residents. Likewise, the so-called bridge holidays for tourism purposes have been implemented since 2011 by Decree No. 1585/2010.
