Concept in Definition ABC

Known as one of the most characteristic characters of the tradition Argentine, Uruguayan and other regions of South America, the gaucho is that individual known to live in rural areas, thus as well as dedicating his life to tasks related to that space, although without too many social ties or labor. The gaucho was one of the central characters of the 19th century and part of the 20th century in South America since he represented to one of the strongest and most powerful attacks against the advance of the State and modernity that it said embody.

It is considered that the origin of the gaucho as a social character in the aforementioned regions has had as much to do with the power vacuum and with the economic, social and political disorder generated by the fall of Spanish power and by the Wars from Independence. These gauchos, having taken part in those wars, were mostly individuals who were left wandering around rural regions after such a situation mostly unemployed and without labor ties or perhaps even morals.

In some cases, the gauchos with greater power and greater economic resources they would become very important leaders in certain areas, in which case they were called caudillos. They had the support of important parts of the rural population although they were frowned upon by intellectuals for their violent methods and for staying out of the law.

It is clear that the gaucho represents a whole lifestyle in which the love the countryside, livestock activities and the remoteness of urban life are some of the main elements. His clothing, consisting of wide, comfortable and traditional clothing (ponchos, baggy pants or pants, shirts, leather elements and accessories of him as spurs, hats, boots and boleadoras), as well as his traditions gastronomic (in which beef occupies an important place), religious and social are in many cases understood as pure representatives of the popular tradition of each region.