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Fiestas Patrias (Chile)
The Fiestas Patrias is the independence day celebration of Chile. It officially lasts for two days:
September 18, in commemoration of the proclamation of the First Governing Body of 1810, and marking the beginning of the Chilean independence process.
September 19, known as the "Day of the Glories of the (Chilean) army".
Unofficially, the celebration can last for around a week, depending on when it falls . Most schools and jobs declare a week-long vacation for the holiday.
Together with Christmas, the fiesta is the most important time of the year for most Chileans.
Use of the flag
In Chile, it is mandatory to hang the Chilean flag from every public building in the country for the Fiestas Patrias. The flag should be in perfect condition, hung from a white pole or from the front of every building, horizontally or vertically. If hung vertically, the star should always be in the upper left corner, visible from the front of the building.
Since 1967, this has been a mandatory practice, punishable with fines in local currency of up to 40,000 pesos (about US$ 75).
See also
Fiestas Patrias
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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Fiestas Patrias (Chile)
