Ever since it became a national holiday in 1938, Flag Day has been the day cities all across Argentina turn light blue and white. Proper flags, t-shirts and pins pop up everywhere, from buildings to street corners and private homes. Even though it was originally set to be the third Monday of June to create a long weekend and help boost tourism, Flag Day became a fixed day in 2011, in honor of the country’s national symbol and its creator, Manuel Belgrano. 

Even though the flag was not created on June 20, the date was established to honor Belgrano, who died that day in 1820. Belgrano, considered one of the main founding fathers of Argentina, was a lawyer, diplomat, politician and military leader who played a vital role in the Argentine Independence Wars, fought between 1810 and 1818. 

In the midst of these wars, Belgrano ordered the creation of the first national flag, which was hoisted on the banks of the Parana River February 27, 1810, close to Rosario. There is some debate as to what the original flag looked like: some historians believe it was made of two vertical stripes, a white one and a light blue one, where others state it was made of three horizontal stripes, two external white ones and a central one that was light blue. 

Due to the fact that the first flag was hoisted there, Rosario is the epicenter of Flag Day celebrations, at the National Flag Memorial. There is an official act, with national and provincial authorities present, as well as different events that can include food fairs as well as musical performances. 

The flag created by Belgrano did not become the national flag until July 20, 1816, shortly after the country declared independence. It was established that it have three stripes, two light blue ones surrounding a central white one. In 1818, the Sun of May, a national symbol inspired by the Incan god of the sun, was added to the central white stripe.