New Year’s Day - Jan 1st
Argentina is in the southern hemisphere, where Janurary is a summer month, so it is common to spend New Year's at lakes, rivers, or pools. Families have a large, late dinner, then celebrate at midnight with parties, fireworks, and parades. Traditional treats include turron, a Spanish candy made of almonds and honey, and pan dulce, a sweetened bread.
Turron candy
Memorial Day for Truth and Justice - March 24th
Honors the los desaparecidos, "the disappeared ones," victims of a military campaign of abduction and murder after a military junta in 1976. It is a solemn day, marked by speeches, commemorative events, school programs, and protests demanding further investigations.
Carnaval - varies according to the Christian calendar, around February or March
A large celebration before the start of Lent, which is a month of religious fasting. Carnaval celebrations vary from region to region, but frequently involve parades, singing and dancing, fireworks, and colorful costumes. The Carnaval period lasts for 9 days.
Lent & Semana Santa- varies according to the Christian calendar, usually March or April
A 40-day religious period beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending on Pascua (Easter), celebrating the life, passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Catholics celebrate by focusing on spiritual matters, and fast from meat. The Lent period culminates in Semana Santa, Holy Week, which is made up of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday (when Jesus commanded his disciples to love one another), Good Friday (the crucifixion of Jesus), and Easter (the resurrection of Jesus). Holy Week is religiously solemn, but many Argentinians use the time off work for vacations, and it is a busy week for hotels and restaurants.
Good Friday (Viernes Santo) - A solemn day for practicing Catholics, who may wear black or cover mirrors. The Passion of Jesus is frequently reenacted. Tafi del Valle in Tucumán Province is especially well known for it's Passion Plays.
Easter (Pascua) - The most important Christian feast celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The day is marked with special church masses, and large family meals and parrillas (barbeque). A Rosca de pascua (Easter cake), a ring shaped cake topped with fruit, is often served. In other South American countries, the ring cake is frequently served at Epiphany, but Argentinians serve it for Easter.
Malvinas Day - April 2nd
A day to pay tribute to the soldiers who died in the 1982 war with Britain to retake the Malvinas Islands (Falklands), and which Argentina lost. The day is marked with wreath-laying ceremonies for war veterans.
Labor Day - May 1st
A day to commemorate the working class, originating in the "eight-hour day" movement. Argentinians generally spend the day with their families
Feast of the Virgin of Luján - May 8th
A religious feast day honoring Our Lady of Luján, the patron saint of Argentina.
Anniversary of the May Revolution - May 25th
Also known as "First National Government" Day, this day celebrates the first independent government in Buenos Aires in 1810. The May Revolution was a series of nonviolent events that culminated in Argentina's first local government not appointed by the Spanish King. Celebrations include parades, speeches, and displays of patriotism, and the Argentine president attends the Te Deum (a hymn of praise and thanksgiving) officiated by the Archbishop of Buenos Aires.
Flag Day - third Monday of June
Celebrated the day revolutionary leader General Manuel Belgrano, raised the Argentine flag against Spain. Military and civic groups lead parades at the National Flag Memorial.
Independence Day - July 9th
Celebrates the signing of the declaration of Argentina's independence from Spain in 1816. It is celebrated with parades, music, food festivals, and typically runs late into the night.
Friendship Day - July 20th
Created by teacher Enrique Febbraro, Friendship Day commemorates the first moon landing, when all the world became friends with the first three astronauts to walk on the moon. It is celebrated by friends sending each other cards, meeting for dinner, and reaching out to old friends.
St. Martin's Day - Third Monday of August
Commemorates the death of General José de San Martín, a hero in Argentina's revolution from Spain. The day is celebrated with military and civic parades.
Day of the People (Día de la Raza) - October 12 or the nearest Monday
Celebrates the Indigenous people who were destroyed by the arrival of Christopher Columbus and European settlers. Cultural activists perform music, read poetry, and hold artistic presentations.
Immaculate Conception - December 8th
A religious holiday observing when the Virgin Mary was conceived without sin. Catholicism is the official religion of Argentina, so the day is observed as a government and bank holiday. Religious people celebrate by attending mass.
Christmas Day - December 25th
Being in the southern hemisphere, Christmas falls during the summer months in Argentina. Families frequently eat their Christmas meal al fresco, stay up until midnight to toast, and celebrate with fireworks. After the toast, children are allowed to open their gifts under the Christmas tree.
Fiesta Nacional del Mate (National Festival of Mate) - Dates vary, in February or March
A celebration of mate (MA-teh), and herbal drink grown in northern Argentina. Mate is the national drink of Argentina, and is so popular that there are jokes centered around "mate addicts" who take take a bottle of hot water and a calabaza gourd everywhere they go to make mate.
The festival commonly includes mate tastings and public speakers who lecture about mate farming and preparation so people can learn to better appreciate the drink.
Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia (National Grape Harvest Festival) - Week Long festival starting last Sunday of February
A week long festival in Mendoza, the wine capital of Argentina, celebrating the end of the harvest. The celebration includes a blessing of the grapes, a service to the Carrodilla Virgin, the patron saint of the vineyards, and parties that peak Friday night. Saturday morning is a carrusel, a horse parade, and a light and sound show Saturday night. The Grape Harvest National Queen is announced at the strike of midnight.
Snow Carnival - Dates vary in June
Because Argentina is in the southern hemisphere, June, July and August are winter months. The Snow Carnival in San Carlos de Bariloche is a celebration of all things snow, and includes a Snow Queen Pageant, skiing, winter sports, and a torch-lit ski parade. People frequently go to the winter resorts to celebrate, which includes both expensive and more affordable options.
Buenos Aires Tango Festival - Dates vary in August or September
A festival held since 1999 celebrating Argentina as the birthplace of Tango. Tango is a dance that originated in the 1850s-1880s, and is said to have originated in brothels, where musicians played music for the waiting lines of men. The dance was once considered vulgar and low-class, and was banned until World War One, when it became popular in Europe, especially France. Free tango lessons are held for all skill levels during the festival.
Gaucho Festival - dates vary in November
A celebration of gaucho, or cattle rancher, culture, in Pampas. Gaucho are like cowboys, loners who watch the cattle and live off the land, with only their horse and knife as companions. The celebration includes horse parades, traditional gaucho songs and dance, and foods such as asado (barbeque).
