 |
| All Festivals in Argentina, religious or secular, have something in common: people dance. Here in Mercedes, the location were Gauchito Gil's day of execution is celebrated by hundreds of thousands of followers, the anniversary of Gauchito Gil's execution is reason enough to celebrate - after the obligatory visit to his shrine has been completed. |
Antonio (Gauchito) Gil was a farm worker, in other words a gaucho. A wealthy widow fell in love, or
had an affair, with him. When her brothers and the head of the police (who was
also in love with the widow) found out about their relationship, they accused him of
robbery and tried to kill him. He enlisted in the army to escape from their persecution. In
the army, he fought against the Paraguayan army. After that
he was received back in his village as a hero.
But, when he arrived at his village, he was forced to return to the army
to fight in the Argentinian Civil War. It was a brother versus brother war. "Gauchito" Gil was
not only tired of fighting, but also did not want to participate in a war against his own countrymen. Therefore, he deserted. He became
an outlaw and acquired a reputation as a Robin Hood figure, based on
his efforts to protect and help the needy.
In the end police caught him in a forest. They tortured him and
hung him from his feet from an algarrobo tree. When a policeman, his executioner, was going to kill him, "Gauchito" Gil
said to him: "Your son is very ill. If you pray and beg me to save your
child, I promise you that he will live. If not, he will die".
After that exchange, said
policeman killed "Gauchito" Gil by cutting his throat. That happened on
January 8, 1878.
After the executioner returned to his village, he learned that his child was in fact very ill. Very
frightened and no less superstitious, the policeman prayed to "Gauchito" Gil to save his son. Miraculously his son's condition improved. Legend has it that "Gauchito" Gil had
healed his murderer's son.
Being eternally grateful for this miracle, the executioner gave Gil's body a proper burial, and built
a tiny shrine for "Gauchito". Moreover, he tried to let everybody
know about the miracle, with overwhelming results. Gauchito's signature colour is red, hence shrines to his memory, t-shirts, crosses, souvenirs et al are all RED.
For some reason, truck drivers have adopted Gauchito Gil as their patron saint, and Argentina's highways are lined with tiny red shrines.
Each year, literally hundreds of thousands of pilgrims camp around Mercedes. Rain, mud or heat waves do not hold the crowds back.
 |
| Present day gauchos with a statue of Gauchito Gill on their way to his shrine |
 |
| Tattoos seem to be a favourite way to express faith in Gauchito. Many of the pilgrims are covered in Skin Deep Gauchitos. |
 |
| This image appears in most of the shrines all over Argentina. Being a true gaucho he is pictured carrying his 'tres marias'. |
 |
| Pilgrims on horse back arrive at Mercedes...many visitors dress as present day Gauchito incarnations |
 |
| A couple of hundred thousand visitors/campers/pilgrims stretch the tiny town to it's limits |
 |
| At the shrine...everyone kisses the mall Gauchito statue, some leave gifts, some cut their long hair and leave it as an offering, but everyone needs to touch it... |
 |
| Typical road side shrine honoring Gauchito Gil |
 |
| Miracles are credited to Gauchito by the true believers. Gauchito is not recognized by the Catholic church as a bona fide saint, however, thousands of his followers believe in his miracles anyway and leave messages and plaques in gratitude for his alleged help. Well, Faith Moves Mountains..... |
Photos compliments of the Internet.....
