Gauchos were the horsemen who looked after huge herds of cattle on the wide grasslands of Argentina, hundreds of years ago. They wore loose trousers called 'bombachas', wide leather belts decorated with silver coins, and a flat hat. They became a national symbol of independence and skill on horseback.
On Tradition Day, schools and towns across Argentina put on festivals. There are horse shows, music with guitars and accordions, traditional dancing (especially a stomping dance called 'malambo'), and lots of asado. Many kids dress up as little gauchos.
The town of San Antonio de Areco, north of Buenos Aires, holds the biggest celebration. People come from all over the country to watch horse skills, see craftspeople make leather and silver work, and eat empanadas in the town square.
The date - 10 November - was chosen because it is the birthday of José Hernández, a writer who wrote a famous long poem about gaucho life. Argentines use the day to remember not just the gauchos themselves but the wider idea: that traditions and stories are worth passing on.
