Independence Day in Argentina
Independence Day in Argentina is a holiday celebrated annually on July 9th. This day is known as Día de la Independencia in Spanish and commemorates the country’s independence from Spain on this date in 1816. This holiday is observed with a lot of patriotic pride and fanfare since the 19th century, and it’s still a popular holiday to this day, despite the turmoil that has occurred in Argentina over the years.
It’s a holiday observed with parades, plenty of speeches given by civic leaders and politicians, and military demonstrations. It’s also a day when people head home to their families for great big feasts.
The History of Independence Day in Argentina
During the late 16th century, Spain established a permanent colony in the area that would eventually become Buenos Aires. Living in this area were not only the descendants of these Spanish immigrants, known as Creoles, but also a sizable number of African slaves.
In 1806, the British decided to launch an invasion against Buenos Aires but were repelled by the Creoles. They attempted to do it again in 1807 and were once again repelled. It was this ability to fight back against British invaders that gave the citizens of Argentina the idea that they could rule themselves.
On May 25, 1810, the first Argentine government was created. Six years after that date, the country declared itself independent from Spain, as did other delegates from the United Provinces of South America. The date that this happened was July 9, 1816.
Observing Independence Day in Argentina
On this holiday, the streets are alive in Buenos Aires and other cities in Argentina. There are parades, festivals, and plenty of street vendors serving food. And of course, there are political speeches and military parades as well. People also spend the day having dinner with their families. The traditional dish for this holiday is grilled or BBQ meat called Asado, Empanadas, and a stew made from pork, beans, red chorizo, and white corn called Locro.