The term Argentina, from Latin argentum (silver), first appears on the Venetian map from 1536. The name Argentina became popular also because of a poem published in 1602 by the Spaniard Martin del Barco Centener, La Argentina, which describes the region of Río de la Plata and founding the city of Buenos Aires. Even at the end of the 18th century, the word was commonly used to describe everything related to Río de la Plata, its valley, territory and population (La Plata Valley). At first it referred to the inhabitants of European descent born in this region, later it extended its meaning to Spaniards permanently settled here.
There is a large and well-organized Polish community in Argentina, the roots of which go back to the 19th century. After World War I, the number of newcomers from Poland to Argentina grew, and Argentina itself became the second country after Canada to which overseas emigration from Poland was headed at that time, and the first among Latin American countries. In 1929, the number of Poles in Argentina was about 25,000, and in 1939 - about 120,000. In 1913, the first Polish magazine Echo Polskie was published in Buenos Aires. Currently, the Polish diaspora is estimated at over 200,000, and the number of people of Polish origin is estimated at around 450,000 (a large part has been completely assimilated). The contribution of Poles to the construction of the Argentinean state was recognized in 1995 with a national holiday in their honor. Argentina is the only country where the Day of the Polish Settler is celebrated on June 8 (Spanish: "Día del Colono Polaco"). This day commemorates the arrival of the first Poles to Argentina at the beginning of June 1897. On this occasion, a week of cultural events dedicated to Poland and Poles is held in Buenos Aires, under the auspices of the Polish Embassy.
Argentina's beef is the most desirable in the world for its taste and physical properties. Cows have very strict diets with no preservatives added. The so-called extensive rearing is used, consisting in free grazing of animals on vast meadows. The animals have at their disposal fresh grass, fresh air, sun, exercise, breeding is stress-free. A resident of Argentina eats 65 kg of beef a year on average (the most in the world). The meat of these cows is relatively high in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
Argentina is the homeland of tango, which was entered on the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List in 2009. Classic Argentine tango is characterized by improvisation and closeness of partners. Tango dancing was forbidden in "high society" because it was considered immoral. He comes from the lower social classes of Buenos Aires. The primitive form of tango appeared as early as the end of the 18th century. Initially, they were danced in inferior pubs and brothels, and its popularity continued to grow, especially thanks to its attractive music. A style of dance that originated around 1900 in Montevideo and Buenos Aires, today it is called the Argentine tango. Later, the tango made its way to the United States and around 1907 to Europe, first to France. It was a real triumph in Paris. The first tango that gained worldwide popularity was La Morocha Angelo Villoldo. The French fell in love with it so much that they created their own style - the Parisian tango, the so-called apashian. However, the origin and exceptionally strong erotic color of this dance also provoked many voices of protest. A great discussion arose around the tango. In 1913, the London newspaper The Times rated tango as extremely indecent. Pope Pius X joined the discussion, speaking negatively. The German emperor forbade his guests to dance it. The joy of dancing tango was so great that such prohibitions were ignored. Thanks to the visit of the great dancer Casimir Ain to Rome and his virtuosity, the next Pope Pius XI has already given a positive assessment.
The "Argentine paradox" refers to the phenomenon where a wealthy country is on the verge of bankruptcy in a short time. Argentina found itself in this situation at the beginning of the 20th century.
Argentina was the first country where fingerprints identified the perpetrator of the crime. In 1892, two young children with a slit throat were found in the small town of Necochea. The mother of the children indicated a neighbor as the culprit - a certain Velasquez. Despite the torture, he did not plead guilty. Ultimately, the bloody fingerprint found on the bathroom door was compared to that of Francisca Rojas, the mother of the children. The resemblance was so clear that, under the burden of evidence, the infanticide pleaded guilty.
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