20 de Junio “ Día de la Bandera”

1. 20 de Junio“Día de la Bandera” Argentine Flag Day June 20th

2. The Argentine flag was created by Manuel Belgrano on February 27, 1812 during the struggle for Independence of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata from Spain. With the intention of raising the spirits of the soldiers, Belgrano took the existing colors of the cockade used during the revolution of May 25, 1810 and made one flag. The Argentine flag was hoisted for the first time on the 23rd of August of 1812 in the tower of the San Nicolás de Bari Church, where the Obelisk (Av. Corrientes & Av. 9 de Julio) now stands. On July 9, 1816; while fighting for independence from Spain, the light-blue and white flag was accepted by the Congress, as a national symbol; and on February 25, 1818, the sun was added in the middle of the white stripe. On June 8, 1938, the then president Roberto M. Ortiz, passed a law that declared the 20th of June (anniversary of Belgrano's death) a National Holiday as Flag Day .

3. Argentine Flag Description: The Argentine flag consists of three horizontal stripes. The top and bottom stripe are sky blue and they are separated by a white stripe. In the middle of the Argentine flag on the white stripe there is an emblem representing the sun with 32 alternating straight and wavy rays. (Sun of May)

4. Argentine Flag Meaning: • There are conflicting views on the meaning of the Argentine flag. One theory states that the light blue represents the Rio de la Plata, (River of Silver) which is the widest river in the world and that the white represents the metal silver, as the word Argentina originates from the Latin word 'Argentum' which means silver. Early conquerors thought there were large quantities of silver hidden in Argentine's river's banks. • Another theory of the Argentine flag colors states that they represent the Bourbon Dynasty of Spain, as Spain colonized Argentina in 1516. Argentina received its independence from the Spanish 300 years later in 1816.