Flag Day in Argentina
Flag Day is a national holiday in Argentina that is dedicated to the flag of the country and commemorates its creator Manuel Belgrano. This holiday is observed annually on the 20th of June, the date when Belgrano died in 1820.
Argentina (National holiday)In Argentina, this holiday has been observed since the late 1930s and has been observed ever since. Most of this country’s Flag Day celebrations center on the National Flag Memorial, a memorial that’s located in Rosario in the Santa Fe Province, but there are of course smaller celebrations held across Argentina.
The History Of Flag Day In Argentina
The flag that this holiday commemorates was created in 1812. It started out simply as a triband with three equal horizontal bands of light blue bands sandwiching a white band in the middle. Then in 1818, a new design element was added and that was the Sun of May. Nowadays, both versions are used. The one with the sun is the ceremonial one and the one without is the ornamental one.
This holiday was first created by law on June 8, 1938. When it was first established, it was celebrated on the third Monday in June, but in 2011, it was created as a fixed holiday that’s observed on June 20th.
Some Fun Argentine Flag Facts
Let’s go over some of the interesting facts about the Argentine flag that we learned while we were researching Flag Day.
- General Manuel Belgrano designed the flag during the country’s battle for independence.
- The “Sun of May” on the flag symbolized the May Revolution, a battle that sparked Argentine’s fight for independence.
- The Sun of May is also a representation of the Incan Sun-god Inti.
Observing Flag Day In Argentina
As previously stated, the major focus of this holiday is at the Flag Day ceremonies in Rosario on this day, but there are other celebrations all over the country as well. People also take the time to hoist the Argentine Flag from their homes and businesses on this day. This is also a day off for the general population, and government offices, schools, and some businesses are closed for the day.
Argentina (National holiday)
