Gauchito Antonio Gil fought injustice in Argentina and paid with his life. Below are some links that honor this interesting man who became a legend.
Byline BBCMundo.com: Con ritmo de chamame Junto a la ruta provincial 123, que une la ciudad de Mercedes con Corrientes capital, todos los 8 de enero se improvisa un multitudinario campamento. La danza del chamamé es una manera de homenajear al Gaucho, más allá de los rezos.
Son los devotos del gaucho Antonio Gil, que llegan después de transitar cientos de kilómetros. MORE...
Ofrendas al costado del camino con Valeria Perasso Banderas que flamean al costado de la ruta, botellas de agua apiladas en grutas perdidas en medio de planicies interminables, canciones que se repiten como un mantra y suenan a profecía en los oídos y los corazones de los iniciados. MORE...
Un Robin Hood criollo Corrientes, tierra de esteros. Allí nació Antonio Mamerto Gil, un gaucho que conoció la guerra a edad temprana, cuando lo reclutaron para luchar en la campaña bélica contra Paraguay. MORE...
Hay cuantiosos relatos acerca de la vida y muerte del Gaucho Antonio Gil debido a que la tradición del lugar abunda en leyendas y es profusa en cuanto a la creatividad por parte de los poetas.
Antonio Gil era uno de los tantos campesinos que poblaban el Pay Ubre, su nombre verdadero fue Antonio Mamerto Gil Nuñez.
Argentina:Estos altares se encuentran dispersos por las rutas de todo el pais. La gente deja ofrendas y rinde homenaje esperando recibir el fabor del Gaucho Gil. Check out the many photos.
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Varios santuarios se levantan en los caminos en honor a este gaucho
La muerte y los primeros milagros de esta leyenda rutera. MORE...
Byline: Eye on Latin America Gaucho Gil
Guillermo Jones Every year on January 8th, 6 kilometers from the town of Mercedes, in the route 123 in the province of Corrientes, a huge amount of people from all around the country gather to pay homage to the Gauchito Gil. Read Text.
Byline NPR: The Legend of Argentina's Gaucho GilWeekend Edition Sunday, October 10, 2004 · In Argentina, it's increasingly common for people to direct their prayers to the spirit of a 19th century "gaucho." Little is known about Antonio Gil, except that the cowboy was an outlaw who was probably executed by provincial authorities. But where history leaves off, religious devotion has taken over. NPR's Martin Kaste reports. MORE... Don't miss the video "Dancing in the Gaucho Shrine."
Byline Argentina: The Life of Gaucho Gil A shrine located outside Mercedes in Corrientes Province was set up to honor one of the folk hero’s known as Gaucho Gil. People come here to pay their respects and pray to this patron saint. This also serves as an economic enterprise marketing various religious symbols and icons. On the eighth of January, over 100,000 people flood this area to honor him on the anniversary of his death. MORE...
Byline Connecticut: Professor´s new multimedia project focuses on Latin American Folk Saints NEW LONDON, Conn. - Folk saints, known in Spanish as "santos populares," play a crucial role in the spirituality of many Latin Americans. The major folk saints have huge national or international cults, while hundreds of others have smaller, local followings. Although not officially recognized by the Catholic Church - the dominant church in Latin America - folk saints are venerated predominantly by Catholics. The devotions are also popular among Hispanic Catholics in the United States, particularly along the U.S.-Mexico border. MORE...
Los devotos del más emblemático miembro del santoral profano regional tuvieron por primera vez el acompañamiento oficial de la Iglesia Católica, que con la visita al santuario del obispo de Goya, Ricardo Faifer, marcó un hito histórico para las miles de personas que veneran al famoso Gauchito Gil. El gesto del prelado fue bien recibido por la masa de laicos que, hasta ayer, estaba obligada a rendir culto a un personaje relegado a la ritualidad pagana. MORE...
Byline: Argentina CommonGround 191 Journal Evita is not the only person who inspires Agentinians. It has become increasingly common for people to direct their prayers as well to the spirit of a 19th century "gaucho." Little is known about Antonio Gil, except that the cowboy was an outlaw who was probably executed by provincial authorities. But where history leaves off, religious devotion has taken over. Legend has it that Gaucho Gil was a good-hearted outlaw who stole from the rich and gave to the poor. Before his hanging, Gil is said to have pledged to become a miracle worker. Now more than 100,000 people come to visit a shrine at the spot of his death, where they leave offerings and seek miracles of their own -- from help passing a grade in school to cures for illnesses. There's no historical record of Gaucho Gil, but that doesn't stop these Argentines from entrusting him with their most fervent hopes and fears.
