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Thursday, February 11, 2010

The Argentine Republic


The Official Ceremonial Flag

Argentina’s flag hails from 1812, and is a triband flag featuring 3 equally spaced horizontal stripes. The colours are light blue, white, and light blue. The “Sun of May” was added in 1818. This flag is known as the Official Ceremonial Flag. This flag is the official civil, state, and war flag and ensign. There is also the Ornamental flag, which does not feature the Sun of May. This flag is seen as an alternate civil flag and ensign. Both are seen as the national flag of Argentina, with the Ornamental flag having to be flown under the Ceremonial flag.



The Sun of May emblem is a representation of  the Inca Sun-god, Inti. And is a replica of an engraving on the first Argentine coin, which was approved in 1813, and valued at 8 Escudo’s. The sun itself is surrounded by 16 waved, and 16 straight rays. The “of May” part of the name of the emblem is a reference to the May Revolution in Argentina, when in 1810, the beginning of the fight for independence from Spain began. Legend has it that at the start of the revolution, the sun broke through the clouds. Something seen as a good omen.

The colours themselves have many legends as to their origins. The most popular is that they represent the sky (blue), clouds (white) and the sun (erm…). Another legend is that the blue is taken from the clothes of the Virgin Mary (Argentina is Catholic), and silver. The name Argentina is taken from the Latin, Argentum, which means “silver.” Another, is that they are from the House of Bourbon, the ruling family in Spain, or taken from the Rio de la Plata (river of silver).

The origins of the flags colours can be traced back to the leader of Argentinas fight for independence, General Belgrano. During one battle, it is said, he realised that both his forces, and those of Spain where using the same colours. Red and yellow. He then opted to use the colours that where used by the Criollos during the May revolution. However, it has since been discovered that the Criollos used red, and it is more likely that the colours where taken from the House of Bourbon.




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