Argentina's Bicentennial

 

Two hundred years ago, in Buenos Aires (then capital of a Spanish colony), a week-long series of revolutionary events took place, known as the Revolucion de Mayo, which set in motion events that led to Argentina's eventual declaration of independence from Spain in 1816. This week, millions of Argentinians, their neighbors and foreign dignitaries gathered in Buenos Aires to celebrate their bicentennial with lavish parades festivals and performances. Collected here are recent scenes from Argentina as its citizens commemorate 200 years of eventful history. (30 photos total)

A soldier sings during a parade in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Saturday May 22, 2010. The parade is part of the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the May revolution, that opened the road to the independence of Argentina from Spain in 1816. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

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People, waving Argentine flags, watch a parade during celebrations for the bicentennial of the May Revolution in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Tuesday, May 25, 2010. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) 

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Soldiers perform in the recreation of Argentina's 1810 May Revolution in Buenos Aires, Friday, May 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

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A boy, wrapped an Argentinean flag, looks on during celebrations of Argentina's bicentennial in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, May 25, 2010. (AP Photo/ Alberto Raggio)

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Women perform during a parade of citizens representing all the Argentine provinces along 9 de Julio Avenue in Buenos Aires on Saturday, May 22, 2010. (AP Photo/ Natacha Pisarenko) 

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An Indian from Argentine northern Chaco province, during a parade representing all the Argentine provinces along 9 de Julio Avenue in Buenos Aires on May 22, 2010. (AP Photo/ Natacha Pisarenko) 

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A woman wearing a dinosaur costume, representing Argentina's Neuquen province, performs during a parade in Buenos Aires on May 22, 2010. (AP Photo/ Natacha Pisarenko) 

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Members of Argentina's Air Force march during a military parade as part of the bicentennial anniversary of the Revolucion de Mayo (May Revolution) in Buenos Aires May 22, 2010. (REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci) 

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A woman performs during a bicentennial parade along 9 de Julio Avenue in Buenos Aires, Argentina on May 22, 2010. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) 

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People from Catamarca province perform in a bicentennial parade on May 22, 2010 ib in Buenos Aires. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) 

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Performers work with balloons on 9 de Julio Avenue, during a bicentennial parade in Buenos Aires on May 22, 2010. (AP Photo/ Natacha Pisarenko) 

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A man dressed as a revolutionary soldier leads students before a recreation of Argentina's 1810 May Revolution in Buenos Aires on Friday, May 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) 

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Thousands of demonstrators participate in the National Indigenous March that arrived in the Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires after traveling some 2,000 km across the country, as part of commemorations for the bicentennial of the Independence and to call for a multicultural state that respects the rights of native peoples. (DANIEL GARCIA/AFP/Getty Images) 

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Inside Argentina's historic Teatro Colon opera house on May 24, 2010. The opera house has been closed for four years for restoration, opening this week as part of the celebration of Argentina's bicentennial. Original here. (Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires/Monica Martinez / CC BY) 

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A huge crowd gathers in front of Argentina's historic Teatro Colon opera house during its debut on Monday, May 24, 2010. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) 

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The image of a guitar being played is projected across the facade of the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, during a light show on May 24, 2010 as it reopened its doors during the Bicentenary celebrations. (Maxi Failla/AFP/Getty Images) 

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Argentinians gather along 9 de Julio Avenue in Buenos Aires as an actress representing Argentina scatters confetti in Buenos Aires on May 25, 2010. (DANIEL GARCIA/AFP/Getty Images) 

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Performers dressed as historic soldiers, parade during bicentennial celebrations in Buenos Aires, Tuesday, May 25, 2010. (AP Photo/Leandro Sanchez) 

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Argentine artists perform depicting Madres de Plaza de Mayo under the rain on May 25, 2010. The Mothers of the disappeared are human rights activists who began their mission after thousands of their children "disappeared", abducted by agents of Argentina's military dictatorship, between 1976 and 1983. (DANIEL GARCIA/AFP/Getty Images) 

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A parade passes in front of the Cabildo (former city hall), in Buenos Aires on May 25, 2010, during a show of lights for the celebration of the Bicentenary of the May Revolution. (ALEJANDRO PAGNI/AFP/Getty Images) 

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People, performing as veterans of the Falklands' war, parade during in Buenos Aires, Tuesday, May 25, 2010. (AP Photo/Leandro Sanchez) 

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Women perform during celebrations of Argentina's bicentennial in Buenos Aires on May 25, 2010. In the background is the Obelisco de Buenos Aires, in the Plaza de la Republica, where Argentina's national flag was hoisted for the first time. (AP Photo/Leandro Sanchez) 

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Argentinians gather along 9 de Julio Avenue in Buenos Aires to attend the bicentenary parade in Buenos Aires on May 25, 2010. (DANIEL GARCIA/AFP/Getty Images) 

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Performers dressed as Members of Argentina's human rights organization Madres de Plaza de Mayo in a bicentennial parade on May 25, 2010. (AP Photo/Leandro Sanchez) 

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The colors of the Argentinean flag are projected onto the front of the old city hall building, now a museum on May 25, 2010. (AP Photo/ Natacha Pisarenko) 

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Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez fans herself as she attends a parade in honor of Argentina's bicentennial, in Buenos Aires on May 25, 2010. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) 

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A model walks the catwalk during the Argentina's Bicentennial History and Fashion show in Buenos Aires on May 6, 2010. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) 

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Cesar Cataldo conducts harpists as they play folk music during the Argentina's bicentennial anniversary in Buenos Aires on May 22, 2010. (REUTERS/Martin Acosta) 

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Couples dance the tango during a parade in the streets of Buenos Aires on May 25, 2010. (REUTERS/Martin Acosta) 

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Sailing ship Libertad (left), registered in Argentina, is followed by other tall ships taking part in the Bicentennial Regatta boat race in Callao Bay, Peru on April 27, 2010. The regatta is jointly organized by the Argentine and Chilean navies in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of both Argentina and Chile. (REUTERS/Pilar Olivares)