International Tango Day

International Tango Day is celebrated on December 11, the birthday of Argentine singer, musician and film actor, tango king Carlos Gardel (1890-1935).
His name, like his face, is familiar to any Argentine, but no one knows where he was born, who became a symbol of Argentine culture of the twentieth century. According to one version, Gardel was born in France, according to another - in Uruguay. At the age of two, he came to Argentina with his mother. He grew up in Buenos Aires, where he became known as a folk singer, then began singing tango and acting in films. In 1917, Gardel recorded his first tango song, “My Sad Night,” and the improvisation dance, which originated in the port area of Buenos Aires, the La Boca neighborhood that became a haven for immigrants from Europe who came to Argentina in search of a better life, began to rapidly gain worldwide popularity, as did Gardel himself.

The dance was originally a man’s affair and women did not participate. Therefore, there was no love motive here. Just the machos were showing each other how to become, dancing on street corners to impress or just pass the time waiting for their turn in the brothel.

Then prostitutes began to be attracted to the dance, thanks to which the classic Argentine tango outfit of a woman retained some of the details characteristic of representatives of the ancient profession: a narrow dress with a mind-blowing cut, mesh stockings, a provocatively decolleted blouse and shoes with studs. The partner looks much more modest: a loose-fitting suit, slicked and anointed hair, lacquered stamps and a felt hat in gangster style.