Normally I don't know that I would count this as a holiday since I try to stay away from things that are not "real" holidays but since I took up ballroom dancing a little over a year ago and this is my blog I figured I could get away with it. Then after looking into it more I probably would actually consider it a real celebration.
Commemorating the birth of two of Argentine Tango's leading personalities, Carlos Gardel (born in 1890) and Julio De Caro (born in 1899). The story goes that in 1965 Ben Molar was on his way to celebrate the birth of Julio while standing on the corner of Corrientes and Esmeralda, a center of the Tango scene, when he realized the coincident of the birthdays. He then proposed the idea for the national Tango day to Secretary of Culture but eleven years later he was still unable to get anyone to actually make the day official. Molar frustrated by not being able to get the government to act organized an event at Luna Park where an estimated 15,000 people attended. On November 29th 1977 a decree was finally passed making it official that December 11th would from then on be the National Tango Day.
In 2009 UNESCO designated Tango as Cultural Patrimony of Harmony.
I wish I could have found some street Tango to show you but I am running out of time, maybe next year (maybe even a video with me in it)
So if you get the chance, go out and Tango (remember it takes two;) and if you can't do that then at least dance!
Pictures from National Tango Day
Links:http://ayearofholidays.wordpress.com/tag/national-tango-day/
http://www.visittangobuenosaires.com/National%20day%20of%20Tango-en.htm