Aerial view over Punta Del Este and Atlantic Ocean on sunset, Uruguay. Image Credit: iStock.
Tourism Week Uruguay

Uruguay’s Tourism Week: A Celebration of Culture and Adventure

Soledad Quartucci

Uruguay’s Tourism Week: A Celebration of Culture and Adventure

For many Uruguayans, Holy Week isn’t just a religious observance—it’s an opportunity to embrace the warmth of summer and embark on new adventures. This vibrant tradition, also known as Tourism Week, invites locals and visitors alike to explore the diverse landscapes and rich culture of Uruguay.

 

 

Uruguay. Image Credit: iStock.

 

 

From the bustling streets of Montevideo to the tranquil towns nestled in the countryside, there’s something for everyone during Tourism Week. Festivals, fairs, and competitions take place across the country, showcasing the best of Uruguayan traditions and hospitality.

 

 

 

 

In Rivera, kite enthusiasts gather for the annual Kite Festival, while art lovers explore exhibitions by local talents. Meanwhile, in San José, nature lovers can hike through eco-tourism trails or hop on a free tourist bus to discover the region’s natural wonders.

 

 

 

For those craving a taste of adventure, Rocha hosts a binational craft beer festival, where visitors can sample a variety of brews from Uruguay and Brazil. And in Paysandú, the Beer Week festival draws crowds with its lively atmosphere and diverse array of entertainment options.

 

 

 

 

“Uruguay is the only place in the world where the most important period of the Catholic-Christian calendar is not only called Holy Week,” writes Montevideo Portal. The day has four other connotations, which, depending on the perspective, carry equal or greater significance, depending on which tradition one seeks to honor, explains the local press.

For lovers of the gaucho world, there’s the Criolla; for cycling enthusiasts, it’s the highlight of the year; for those who pilgrimage to Paysandú year after year, the festival centered around beer has arrived; for those who want to live spiritually and remain faithful to their beliefs, the origin of the festivity remains intact; and finally, for those who simply seek another excuse to wander, relax, and explore the country, it’s a new opportunity to set aside routine and engage in tourism.

 

 

 

 

La Nacion calls Uruguay the most secular country in Latin America. “Once in Seville, they introduced me as coming from a country where Holy Week is called Tourism Week,” said the Archbishop of Montevideo, Cardinal Daniel Sturla, to BBC Mundo. To understand the reasons behind this, “it is necessary to travel back in time,” writes Gerardo Lissardy for La Nacion.

Lissardy explains that the Uruguayan state began to distance itself from the Church from 1860 onwards, with measures such as the secularization of cemeteries or the creation of a civil registry to record births, marriages, and deaths, a task that until 1879 was solely within the Catholic sphere. Although Catholicism was predominant in the country, Sturla points out that “when the process of secularization began in Uruguay, the Church was fragile, it didn’t have much strength, and that also contributed to its success.”

The changes included removing crucifixes from public hospitals, eliminating religious education in public schools, and allowing divorce at the sole will of the woman. Mónica Maronna, historian and co-author of the book “100 Years of Secularity in Uruguay,” points out that during those years, the anti-clerical battle was waged both legally and culturally.

This paved the way for the definitive establishment of the separation of State and Catholic Church in the Constitution that came into force in 1919 in Uruguay. That same year, a holidays law was approved in the country that would change the names of several Catholic dates: January 6 became Children’s Day instead of Epiphany, December 25 became Family Day instead of Christmas, and Tourism Week replaced Holy Week.

Lissardy describes that those changes seem to have left a lasting imprint on Uruguayan society, which today has 3.4 million people. “It is the country in Latin America with the highest percentage of people who declare “none” when asked about their religion: 47%, according to the Latinobarómetro survey conducted last year in 17 countries in the region. Chile follows in this category, with 29%,” says Lissardy.

In recent decades, Uruguay has adopted new laws contrary to the positions of the Catholic Church, such as the one that decriminalized abortion in the first 12 weeks of gestation in 2012 or the one that enabled same-sex marriage in 2013.

 

Soledad Quartucci | CEO/Founder, Latina Republic

Latina Republic is dedicated to promoting regional understanding through compelling narratives, articles, interviews, and reports that emanate from the heart of the Americas. Our foremost goal is to facilitate constructive dialogue by illuminating local viewpoints frequently overshadowed by mainstream media. Our mission is to equip all stakeholders with essential insights for addressing regional issues, thus empowering them in their efforts. We are committed to portraying the victories and hardships of everyday life in Latin America, while also chronicling the progression of social movements and amplifying the voices of those at the forefront of change.

 

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