Everyone loves Cinco de Mayo, with it's debauched beer- and margarita-drinking, it's mariachi music, and its complete disconnection from the historical event it commemorates. But Cinco de Mayo is in the past, and now it's time for Veinticinco de Mayo! Bostonist knows what you're thinking: "Huh? Whuh?" Had we not once resided in Argentina, we might be thinking the same thing. But in fact, the 25th of May is an important Argentinian holiday, and Bostonist strongly urges you to celebrate.
In case you're curious, May 25, 1810, was the day that locals in Buenos Aires took over governance from a representative of the Spanish crown, which was prompted by Napoleon's taking over Spain. A proper declaration of independence wouldn't come until July 9 (another big holiday), 1816, and actual independence would take another nine years. In any event, May 25 is a big day in Argentina and there will actually be some local observances.
The Association of Argentinians in New England calls this week Argentinian Week (Semana Argentina) and sponsors various events at the Boston Public Library and elsewhere. These include an Argentinian art, products, and tourism expo (today and tomorrow, at the library), a tango show (on Wednesday evening, under the auspices of the Boston Tango Society, at the Mt. Auburn VFW, 688 Huron Ave. in Cambridge), and a screening of the Argentinian film Kamchatka (on Thursday at the library). Alberto Delloca, the head guy at the Association of Argentinians, assured Bostonist that these events would have broad appeal and be of interest even to non-Argentinians.
You could also pay respects to the statue of Domingo Sarmiento on Commonwealth Avenue near Gloucester Street. A former President of Argentina, Sarmiento is known (there) as "The Great Educator" for having created that country's public school system; at one point, he came to Boston (and other U.S. cities) to study our schools, which may be why the Argentinian government decided to give us the (admittedly severe, kind of strange) statue, which frequently sees flowers, visitors, and other ceremonies on May 25th.
Or, if you wish to celebrate Argentina in a culinary fashion, Delloca recommends Tango in Arlington, where you can gorge yourself on well-prepared steak and other cow parts. Argentinians are a patriotic people and they love their country's cuisine (as does Bostonist), so you can expect Wednesday night to be a raucous good time there. Delloca also recommends Chacho's I, on Tremont Street in Roxbury Crossing, for their Argentinian-style empanadas. Bostonist, for our part, recommends that you wear Argentinian colors (light blue and white) on Wednesday. Delloca tells us there are about 4,000 Argentinians in Massachusetts, many of them in the Boston area, and they will surely be happy to see your respect for their homeland. Additionally, Bostonist knows from personal experience that the Argentinians are a very attractive people, so it can't hurt to be in their good graces.
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