If you were going to compare 25 de mayo (25th of May) to patriotic holidays in the United States, it wouldn't be equivalent to the 4th of July. 25 de mayo celebrates the formation of the first national government, the Primera Junta on May 25, 1810. Six years later, Argentina officially declared independence from Spain on July 9, 1816. This second patriotic holiday, 9 de julio, is comparable to the 4th of July in the United States. Celebrating 25 de mayo would be like celebrating the formation of the First Continental Congress that met on September 5, 1774, in Philadelphia.
25 de mayo is coming up soon! This year, it will most likely be celebrated differently than in previous years because of the social distancing and quarantine still being practiced in Argentina. In past years, there have been special events and food to commemorate the day. I was lucky enough to be in Argentina two years ago for this celebration. I went to the Feria de Mataderos, a street fair in one of the outer neighborhoods of the city. My friends and I saw a traditional demonstration of gauchos on horseback, bought white and blue ribbons to wear from a street vendor, and ate churros and locro, a traditional stew.
