September 18th marks one of the most significant dates on Chile’s national calendar: its Independence Day, locally known as the Dieciocho. Chile will be taking a break from its everyday routine to mark the occasion, with the national holiday extending into a second day on September 19.
It is a yearly commemoration of the founding of Chile’s first national governing body in 1810, a pivotal step on the country’s path to full independence from Spain.
September 18th is the official date of the First National Government Junta of Chile, when the country’s patriotic festivities, known as Fiestas Patrias, reach their peak across cities and towns nationwide.
Almost all government offices, schools and businesses close for the occasion, and millions of Chileans mark the holiday with family, food and celebration.
The holiday period doesn’t end after a single day. September 19th is separately observed as the Day of the Glories of the Army, meaning Chile effectively enjoys a two-day national holiday, and many workplaces and schools extend the break further by closing from September 17th onward.
The roots of the holiday go back to 18 September 1810, when Napoleon Bonaparte’s invasion of Spain and the imprisonment of King Ferdinand VII left Spain’s American colonies in a state of uncertainty. In response, a group of prominent citizens in Santiago convened an open council, the Cabildo Abierto, and established the First National Government Junta, the first autonomous governing body in Chilean history.
Although Chile’s independence was not formally declared until 1818, the country chose to commemorate this earlier date instead, treating it as the true beginning of its national story.
Typically, the festivities involve flying the Chilean flag from balconies and public buildings across the country, alongside traditional food, music and cultural performances. The cueca, Chile’s national dance, is performed widely during this period, and fondas, festive outdoor fairgrounds, spring up in towns and cities to host the celebrations.
Empanadas and anticuchos are among the traditional dishes associated with the holiday, and asados, Chilean-style barbecues, are a common way for families to mark the occasion together.
It is also a time for Chileans living abroad to celebrate their national identity, with community events, parades and traditional celebrations held wherever Chilean communities have settled around the world.
As September 18th approaches, preparations for the Fiestas Patrias grow across the country, with the holiday serving as a moment for Chileans to reflect on the nation’s history and the path that eventually led to full independence.
Independence Day is a public holiday, but for many Chileans it carries a deeper meaning, serving as a lasting reminder of the country’s history and its ideals of freedom and national unity.