The national flag of the Argentine Republic, often referred to as the Argentine flag (Spanish: bandera argentina), is a triband, composed of three equally wide horizontal bands coloured baby blue and white. There are multiple interpretations on the reasons for those colors. The creation of a new flag with those colors would have been then a way to denote autonomy, while keeping the relations with the captive king alive. Local tradition has it that the first flag was sewn by María Catalina Echevarría de Vidal and raised by Cosme Maciel, a civilian sailor. Soldiers of the Fatherland, we have heretofore had the glory of wearing the national cockade; there (pointing to the Independence battery), on the Independence Battery, where our Government has recently had the honor of bestowing it upon, shall our weapons enlarge their glory.
Flag Day in Argentina is held on June 20. This was sanctioned by President Roberto Ortiz in 1938.
Common belief is that the white and blue colors are used to represent the sky and the clouds. However, some historians attribute the colors to the House of Bourbon.
The Sun of May is a replica of an engraving found on the first Argentine coin.
The Argentine flag has served as inspiration for other flags, including the flag of the United Provinces of Central America and the flag of Peru.
There are three anthems written for the Argentine flag.