On the 25^th of August 2022, we celebrated together with our amazing Uruguayan team members the Independence Day of their country!

We took the opportunity to learn more about Uruguay, its natural attractions, history, culture, food, music and more.

Did you know that?

• Día de la Independencia de Uruguay (Independence Day of Uruguay) is celebrated each year on the 25^th of August and marks the country’s independence from Brazil in 1825.
• The area that is known as Uruguay today was first inhabited by groups of hunter–gatherers 13,000 years ago.
• In Spanish colonial times, and for some time thereafter, Uruguay and some neighboring territories were called Banda Oriental [del Uruguay] (“Eastern Bank [of the Uruguay River]”). This is why, after gaining its independence, the country became known as República Oriental del Uruguay or “Oriental Republic of Uruguay”.
• The name “Uruguay” comes from the Indigenous Guaraní language and there are several interpretations to its meaning. Some say it means “bird-river” or “the river of the urú”, “urú” being a common noun of any wild fowl. Others think the name refers to a river snail called “uruguá” that was plentiful across the Uruguay River’s shore.
• The nine horizontal stripes on the Uruguayan flag represent the nine original departments of Uruguay. The blue and white colors are modeled after the flag of Argentina. The top left corner (also known as the canton) is white and features the Sun of May with 16 rays. The Sun of May is a national emblem for Uruguay. It is also the national emblem of Argentina. This sun symbolizes the Incan sun god Inti, who was worshipped by the Inca Empire.
• Uruguay is ranked first in Latin America in democracy, peace, low perception of corruption, and e-government.
• Almost 95% of the electricity in Uruguay is generated from renewable resources, mainly from wind farms.
• Uruguay has the longest national anthem in the world (almost 5 minutes long).
• Uruguay is one of the world’s largest producers of soybeans, greasy wool, horse meat, beeswax and quinces.
• One of the main natural attractions in Uruguay is Punta del Este, situated on a small peninsula off the southeast coast of Uruguay. Here tourists can practice snorkeling, surfing, sunbathing and other recreational activities and adventurous sports.
• A very unusual but famous sculpture of a hand emerging from the sand has become the symbol of Punta del Este. It’s called “La Mano” (The Hand) or “Los Dedos” (The Fingers) or even “Hombre emergingendo a la vida” (“Man Coming to Life”) and it was created in the summer of 1982. 
• Cultural experiences in Uruguay include exploring the country’s colonial heritage, as found in Colonia del Sacramento, one of the country’s oldest towns.
• Estadio Centenario (Centenario Stadium), the national stadium of Uruguay, hosted the very first FIFA World Cup back in 1930. Football is the most popular sport in Uruguay, the country’s national team having won the World Cup on two occasions.
• Some of the typical food dishes in Uruguay include Asado uruguayo (Uruguayan barbecue with various types of meat), Chivito (steak and egg sandwich), Dulce de leche (Latin American caramel made of sugar and milk), Alfajor (small cake, filled with Dulce de leche and covered with chocolate or meringue), Pastafrola (cake filled with quince jelly), Chajá (fruity sponge cake with meringue and whipped cream).
• To prevent obesity and arterial pressure among its citizens, the Uruguay government introduced a law banning salt from restaurants and school cafeterias. If you need to spice up your food, you have to specifically ask the waiter to bring you the salt shaker.
• As many other Latin Americans, Uruguayans enjoy maté,  a caffeine-rich infused drink.
• Uruguay has a rich music culture. One of the most famous tangos, “La cumparsita” (1917), was written by the Uruguayan composer Gerardo Matos Rodríguez. Also, the candombe is a folk dance performed at Uruguayan Carnival.