Shrove Monday in Argentina
Shrove Monday is one of Argentina’s two fixed national Carnival holidays. Its date changes from year to year, while local celebrations reflect the country’s varied cultural histories and community traditions.[1][2]
A national public holiday
Argentina’s Law 27,399 lists both Carnival Monday and Tuesday as fixed national holidays throughout the country. They are not movable holidays under the law’s transfer rules, which apply to a separate list of holidays. Shrove Monday therefore forms part of a two-day national holiday period whose dates change with the Carnival calendar.[1]
For employees covered by the Labour Contract Law, national holidays follow Sunday rest rules. Employees who work on a national holiday are entitled to their normal pay plus an equal amount, subject to the law’s provisions. The law establishes the holiday nationwide; individual work arrangements may still vary.[1][3]
A changing tradition with deep roots
Carnival has a long history in Argentina. A national Culture Ministry resolution says records of celebrations in the country date from the late eighteenth century. It describes Carnival as a popular cultural expression shaped by local and regional differences, and connected to identities that include Indigenous, African-descended, Hispanic, urban, Andean and coastal influences.[2]
The holiday has also had a changing public history. A Culture Ministry account describes nineteenth-century Carnival as a popular street celebration, and says that in the first half of the twentieth century festivities included dances, orchestras, comparsas, costumes and masks. The same account says Carnival expressions were prohibited and persecuted during the civic-military dictatorship, and that Carnival holidays were restored in 2010.[4]
How people celebrate
There is no single nationwide form of Carnival. Celebrations can include murgas, comparsas, percussion groups, music, dancing, costumes and public gatherings. A Culture Ministry resolution emphasizes that community participation is central to preparing, organizing and holding the festivities, which may take place in streets and other public spaces.[2]
In Tilcara, in Jujuy’s Quebrada de Humahuaca, the Los Caprichosos comparsa organizes activities around several parts of the Carnival season. These include the Desentierro del Diablo, the Martes de Chaya and the Entierro del Diablo. The group’s account describes roles for musicians, costume makers and people representing devils, and connects participation with local cultural identity and relationships with Pachamama.[5]
Regional forms and local schedules
Celebrations vary by region and town. A national Culture Ministry overview describes large events with floats and comparsas parading in dedicated venues, neighborhood celebrations with murgas and stages in streets or plazas, and comparsas that visit homes and streets. The examples show why the name of the holiday does not point to one shared national ceremony.[4]
Banks observe Carnival as a banking holiday. The Central Bank’s annual listing gives the applicable dates, and it says electronic wallets, ATMs, online banking and card payments can be used during banking holidays. For shop hours, local transport and public events, check the relevant provider or local authority for the place you plan to visit.[6]
Frequently asked questions
Is Shrove Monday a public holiday in Argentina?
Yes. The law designates Carnival Monday and Tuesday as fixed national holidays throughout Argentina.[1]
Do employees get the day off?
When does Shrove Monday fall?
The date changes each year. Argentina’s holiday law names Carnival Monday as a fixed national holiday, and the date follows the changing Carnival calendar.[1]
Are banks open?
Banks observe Carnival as a banking holiday. The Central Bank says electronic wallets, ATMs, online banking and card payments remain available during banking holidays.[6]
Are shops and public transport open?
Hours and service arrangements can vary by provider and location. Check local schedules before travelling or planning errands.[6]
Sources and references
Sources used for Shrove Monday in Argentina:
- TEXTO ORIGINAL - Ley 27399 - LEY DE ESTABLECIMIENTO DE FERIADOS Y FINES DE SEMANAS LARGOS- Argentina.gob.ar; Honorable Congreso de la Nación Argentina
- TEXTO ORIGINAL - Resolución 1546 / 2022 - MINISTERIO DE CULTURA- Argentina.gob.ar; Ministerio de Cultura
- TEXTO ACTUALIZADO - Ley 20744 - LEY DE CONTRATO DE TRABAJO- Argentina.gob.ar; Honorable Congreso de la Nación Argentina
- Carnavales Argentinos: tiempo de alegría popular- Argentina.gob.ar; Ministerio de Cultura
- Música, canto y festejo en el Carnaval de la Quebrada de Humahuaca, Comparsa Los Caprichosos de Tilcara- Argentina.gob.ar; Secretaría de Cultura
- Consultá feriados bancarios- Banco Central de la República Argentina