Friend's Day was celebrated to the full and put a special color to the City

. Neither the rain – defined but stubborn – nor the acute cold could be with the celebrations of the Day of the Friend. Yesterday was a special Friday since midday and throughout the day because despite the rigor of the time, the platenses went out into the street, visited bars and restaurants and met their peers in toasts who bet so dear feelings like friendship.

The streets of the Center were very busy, with constant comings and goings of groups of friends. Similarly gastronomic sites, almost all with depleted reserves, as much at noon than at night.

For these encounters, so clbadic in our city (pioneering to celebrate the day of the Friend) there is no distinction of ages: everyone celebrates the values ​​of l & # 39; 39, friendship, school-aged children, adolescents, young people, adults and the elderly (see separately). It happens that with only a few years of relationship, the date is enough to meet and celebrate. Not to mention these ties of affection and trust that have lasted for decades

and is that July 20, not less than 30 years ago, acquires great importance between children and adults. Each in his own way, there are few who deprive themselves of celebrating it. And if there is no opportunity to meet, greetings flood social networks early.

In some cases, with more teenage tendencies, there are small gifts exchanges, so the gift shops are reloaded by the customers on that date.

Although lunch brought together many groups, the night was the time of the greatest convocation. The fact that the celebration fell on the eve of a Saturday, a day that usually has fewer obligations, contributed to the intensity of the movement.

Not only was celebrated in the gastronomic spaces. Many groups gathered in houses, where they grilled grilled meats, pizzas, empanadas, chopped, without running out of beer, wine, drinks and soda.

Figures of the phenomenon [19659003] According to statistics, the number of people celebrating Friendship Day increases over time. A survey conducted by the Argentine Chamber of the average business -CAME- indicates that in 2007 less than 400,000 Argentines celebrated on July 20, in 2013 they were already 800,000 and last year the a record of 1.5 million has been achieved. The entity pointed out that although "is not the most important" from the business point of view, the date "continues to grow from year to year."

For this Friend's Day, meanwhile, it is expected that the figure will come back to hit another leap. "The festivities increase by 25% each year compared to the previous one and we badume with the available information that it will continue to grow at this rate," said Damián Di Pace, CAME adviser. If this forecast is respected, there would be between 1.8 and 1.9 million people today.

"The growth of meetings has greatly promoted the promotion of social networks, which generate more contacts in a short time, and they stimulate the organization of the meeting into groups. went from the phone call of five years ago to greet your friend to the WhatsApp message and the badembly of a social group for the meeting in an instant, "said Di Pace.

The study showed that 83% celebrate in a home, either with food prepared by themselves or ordered at home. Only 9% go to a restaurant or pizzeria and 4% go to a bar or bowling alley.

"The house is by far the main meeting place, much more than bars and restaurants.Now that does not mean that there is no gastronomic consumption at that time. There are many orders for food delivery, such as minced meat, pizzas, empanadas and rotisserie products, "commented Di Pace

28% pizza and only 11% roast. out of 4 planned to make gifts, they will impose little value: 18% were planning to buy products in garages, 10% of "experience" and 10% of wine

In total, according to the gift estimates, expenses per person average this weekend the $ 450.