Public holidays in Argentina
The following are the National public holidays and other observances of Argentina.
Though holidays of many faiths are respected, public holidays usually include most Catholic based holidays. Historic holidays include the celebration of the May Revolution, Independence Day, National Flag Day and the death of José de San Martín.
The extended family gathers on Christmas Eve at around 9 p.m. for dinner, music, and often dancing. Candies are served just before midnight, when the fireworks begin. They also open gifts from Papá Noel. New Year's Day is also marked with fireworks. Other widely observed holidays include Good Friday, Easter, Labor Day and Veterans Day.
Public holidays in 2019
The "movable holidays" whose dates coincide with Tuesdays and Wednesdays will be moved to the previous Monday. Those that coincide with Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be moved to the following Monday.Day | English name | Spanish name | Type | Notes |
January 1 | New Year's Day | Año Nuevo | Immovable | Beginning of a new year. |
Day 48 and 47 before Easter | Carnival Monday and Tuesday | Carnaval | Immovable | Dates vary with Easter |
March 24 | Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice | Día Nacional de la Memoria por la Verdad y la Justicia | Immovable | Anniversary of the coup d'état that started the 1976–1983 National Reorganization Process. |
April 2 | Day of the Veterans and Fallen of the Falklands War | Día del Veterano y de los Caídos en la Guerra de Malvinas | Immovable | Tribute to the fallen in, and the veterans of, the 1982 Falklands War. |
April 14 | Good Friday | Viernes Santo | Immovable | Christian holiday, date according to lunar calendar. |
May 1 | Labour Day | Día del Trabajador | Immovable | International holiday. |
May 25 | May Revolution | Día de la Revolución de Mayo | Immovable | Anniversary of the May Revolution in 1810, creation of the First National Government. |
June 17 | Anniversary of the Passing of General Martín Miguel de Güemes | Paso a la Inmortalidad del General Martín Miguel de Güemes | Movable | Anniversary of the death of Martín Miguel de Güemes, general of the Argentine War of Independence. |
June 20 | General Manuel Belgrano Memorial Day | Paso a la Inmortalidad del General Manuel Belgrano | Immovable | Anniversary of the death of Manuel Belgrano, creator of the Flag of Argentina. |
July 9 | Independence Day | Día de la Independencia | Immovable | Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 1816. |
August 20 | General José de San Martín Memorial Day | Paso a la Inmortalidad del General José de San Martín | Movable | Anniversary of the death of José de San Martín, liberator of Argentina, Chile and Peru. |
October 14 | Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity | Día del Respeto a la Diversidad Cultural | Movable | Former "Día de la raza", anniversary of the arrival of Columbus to the Americas. |
November 20 | National Sovereignty Day | Día de la Soberanía Nacional | Movable | Anniversary of the 1845 Battle of Vuelta de Obligado against the Anglo-French blockade of the Río de la Plata. |
December 8 | Immaculate Conception Day | Día de la Inmaculada Concepción de María | Immovable | Christian holiday, conception of the Virgin Mary free from original sin. |
December 25 | Christmas | Navidad | Immovable | Christian holiday, Nativity of Jesus. |
Non working days
The following are federal non-working national or religious holidays, during which people of the following faiths are excused from work:Day | English name | Spanish name | Religion | Notes |
April 11, 12, 17 and 18 | Passover | Pésaj | Judaism | Pesach. First two days and last two days. Date according to lunar calendar. |
April 13 | Holy Thursday | Jueves Santo | Catholicism | Date according to lunar calendar. |
April 24 | Day of Action for Tolerance and Respect among Peoples | Día de Acción por la Tolerancia y el Respeto entre los Pueblos | Armenians | Commemoration of the Armenian genocide. |
June 25 | Festival of Breaking of the Fast of the Holy Month of Ramadan | Fiesta de la Ruptura del Ayuno del Sagrado Mes de Ramadán | Islam | Eid al-Fitr. Date according to lunar calendar. |
September 1 | Festival of Sacrifice | Fiesta del Sacrificio | Islam | Eid al-Adha. Date according to lunar calendar. |
September 21 and 22 | Jewish New Year | Año Nuevo Judío | Judaism | Rosh Hashanah. Date according to lunar calendar. |
September 30 | Day of Atonement | Día del Perdón | Judaism | Yom Kippur. Date according to lunar calendar. |
October 2 | Islamic New Year | Año Nuevo Islámico | Islam | Date according to lunar calendar. |
Bicentennial Holidays
As part of the celebration of the Independence Day Bicentennial, the following extraordinary and one-time holidays were arranged:- February 27, 2012: Bicentenary of the creation of the Flag of Argentina and the first pledge to it.
- September 24, 2012: Bicentenary of the Battle of Tucumán.
- January 31, 2013: Bicentenary of the inaugural session of the Assembly of the Year XIII.
- February 20, 2013: Bicentenary of the Battle of Salta.
- July 9, 2016: Bicentennial of the Argentine Declaration of Independence.
Other observances
- Teacher's Day on September 11, commemorating the death of D. F. Sarmiento; only observed by primary school students.
- Student's Day/Spring Day on September 21; only observed by high-school and university students.
- Friend's day on July 20; unofficial.
- Mothers' Day.
- The Argentinan Animals' Day predates World Animal Day by 17 years. It was first held in 1908 on the initiative of Ignacio Lucas Albarracín, director of the Zoological Garden and president of the Animal Protection Association of Buenos Aires. Initially the day was observed on April 2, it was moved after Albarricín died on April 29, 1926 to coincide with this day.
- Fathers' Day.
- Children's Day.
- Navy Day on May 17, for the victory at the Battle of Buceo.
- Battle of San Lorenzo anniversary on February 3.