Interesting facts: "Multiculturalism in Argentina.."

Argentina is regarded as a multicultural and multiethnic country where more than 40 countries´ different cultures, traditions and cults harmoniously coexist.
Such a diversity has been enshrined in the National Constitution in its section 20 setting forth that foreigners living in the Argentine territory are entitled to the same civil rights that are exercised by an Argentine citizen, being able, among other acts, to practise their religion at their own discretion without being forced to become citizens. Neither can they be compelled to pay extraordinary compulsory rates.

Such rights are also acknowledged by the National Education Act N°26.206 by means of which the National State secures the existence of equal conditions by respecting differences existing among individuals. No gender-based, or any other type of discrimination is allowed. The same act specially refers to native peoples´ condition by assuring that their mother tongue and cultural identity will be respected, and promoting the importance of multiculturalism when it comes to all students´ education.

In the second half of the XIX and the first half of the XX century there arose a remarkable and predominantly European immigration flow, such a movement being regarded as another major cornerstone with respect to the Argentine values and culture. Until then and since the XVI century the first inhabitants living in Argentina had been the native Indians and Spanish settlers.

Such as there exist diplomatic delegations involving almost all the countries in the world, there is also a countless number of foreign minority groups disseminated all over the Argentine territory. Such groups celebrate their festivities and carry out religious activities within an environment of respect displayed by the men and women of our country.

In Argentina there exists an unlimited freedom of cults granted by the National Constitution, where the Catholic religion prevails, since 77% of the Argentine people have been baptized as such. Argentina has developed strong beliefs around the Virgin conception, like in the case of Virgen de Lujan that is found in the Province of Buenos Aires, Virgen de Itatí located in Corrientes and Virgen del Valle in Catamarca.

The fastest growing religion in the recent years has been Evangelism having 15.000 temples and some 4.5 billion followers; other religious communities living in Buenos Aires are the Orthodox Christian, (0.5%); the Spiritist (0.2%) and the Islamic community (0.2%).

16 % of the Argentine population considers itself non-religious, that is to say agnostic, and 4% regards itself as atheists. Some 2.500 cults have become officially recognized and accepted by the National State by this year 2007.

There are largely widespread religious popular beliefs such as the Difunta Correa cult, and those involving Mother Maria, Pancho Sierra, or Gauchito Gil.

In some cases it is possible to find precolombine or African beliefs in popular ceremonies, these beliefs sometimes being blended with the Roman Catholic and/or the Evangelist religion characteristics, such as the widespread popular custom consisting in dropping the first sip of wine to the land as a sort of sacrificial gift to Pachamama, whose cult has been relatively preserved in the Argentine Northwest region.