Jul 09, 2018
Argentina Independence Day 2018
This Doodle’s Key Themes
Today’s Doodle celebrates Argentina’s national day, whose name is derived from argentum, the Latin word for “silver”. During the 16th century, navigators traveled to South America in search of treasure, leading them to the Río de la Plata, or “river of silver.” The colony of Buenos Aires — now Argentina’s capital and most populous city — was established on the western bank of the river.
On July 9, 1816, the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata — Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and part of Bolivia — met in the city of Tucumán and declared their independence from Spain.
Today marks the anniversary of that declaration, a celebration of the country’s journey to sovereignty.
Argentine families gather on this day to enjoy plentiful helpings of locro, a hearty stew of meat, hominy, and squash. For those with a sweet tooth, the national holiday’s a good excuse for extra pastelitos, churros, and hot chocolate. In Buenos Aires, locals gather by the thousands on La Avenida 9 de julio, donning sky-blue-and-white rosettes known as escarapelas. These same colors are seen in today’s Doodle, depicting the Argentinian flag with a golden sun in the center, modeled after the engraving seen on the country’s first coin, the real.
¡Feliz Día de la Independencia, Argentina!
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