Argentina holiday name restoration decrees

Under the administration of President Javier Milei, the Argentine government has issued decrees to revert the names of several official holidays to their historical designations.

In August 2026, Decree 562/2025 reinstated the name ‘Día del Niño’ (Children’s Day) for the annual August celebration. This move reversed a 2020 decision to use more inclusive terms such as ‘Día de las Infancias’ or ‘Día de la Niñez’.

Following this, the administration signed a decree to change the name of the October 12 holiday. The date, which had been known as ‘Día del Respeto a la Diversidad Cultural’ (Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity) since 2010, will revert to ‘Día de la Raza’ (Day of the Race). While the holiday status and scheduled rest day remain unchanged, the new administration intends to frame the date as a commemoration of Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas.

Both changes have drawn criticism from social organizations, academic sectors, and human rights groups, who view the reversals as setbacks for inclusive perspectives and indigenous recognition.