FÊTE DU 21 MAI

On May 21, Chile celebrates "el día de las glorias navales" to commemorate the naval battle of Iquique against Peru that took place in 1879. It opposed the Chilean Arturo Prat, captain of the Esmeralda, to Miguel Grau Seminario, commander of the Peruvian Huascar. Between military parades and festive gatherings, the inhabitants dress in extravagant fashion. It is also an opportunity for the Andean peoples and their Bolivian neighbours to come down from the high altiplanic spheres and add sparkle to the festival with their beautiful traditional costumes.