The flag of Argentina was adopted on February 12, 1812 and is twice as wide as it is tall. It consists of three equally wide horizontal stripes colored cerulean blue and white, alternating. The three stripes on the flag were designed by Manuel Belgrano, who was the leader of the Argentinean revolution against Spain. Argentina did not claim independence from Spain until 1816.
There are conflicting views on the meaning of the Argentine flag. One theory is that the stripes are meant to represent the blue sky parting to reveal the white clouds which is said to have happened when the liberation demonstration began in Buenos Aires, Argentina on May 25, 1810. Another theory states that the blue stripes represent the Rio de la Plata, (River of Silver) which is the widest river in the world and that the white stripe represents the metal silver as the word Argentina originates from the Latin word ‘Argentum’ which means silver. Early conquers believed that there were large amounts of silver hidden in the river banks of the Rio de la Plata’s banks.
The design in the center of the flag is called the “Sun of May” and it was added to the flag in 1818. The Sun of May, is a replica of an engraving on the first Argentine coin which was approved in 1813, whose value was one Spanish dollar. The Sun of May is golden yellow, usually depicted with a face, and has thirty two alternating straight and wavy rays. It is said to be modeled after the symbol of Inti, the Incan god of the Sun, although Argentina had little contact with the Incas.
Argentinean Flag etiquette is very strict and it is essential that Flag rules and protocols are followed correctly. One of the etiquette rules stipulates the flag’s order of precedence, which includes the National Flag of Argentina, State Flag of Argentina, Military Flag of Argentina and other flags of the country. Argentina also imposes strict laws on the handling and display of the national flag which includes the appropriate type of wood for the flagpole. Flag day in Argentina is celebrated on June 20th, which is the anniversary of Manuel Belgrano’s death.