A centuries-old Ukrainian presence in northern Argentina is gaining new recognition, with local history moving into the province’s official calendar.
The Chamber of Representatives of Argentina’s Misiones Province unanimously approved the establishment of Ukrainian Immigrants and Their Descendants Day. The new holiday will be celebrated annually on the third Thursday of May.
This was reported by the Ukrainian World Congress on Facebook.
Congresswoman Alicia Zalesak, who is of Ukrainian descent, initiated the bill. The document was prepared with the participation of Misiones’ Ukrainian community.
The first groups of Ukrainian immigrants arrived in the province at the end of the 19th century. Most of them settled in southern Misiones, particularly in the towns of Apóstoles, Azara, and Tres Capones.
It was in these areas that the province’s first official agricultural colonization project was launched at the initiative and under the leadership of Governor Juan José Lanusse.
For generations, Ukrainians have developed Misiones through their hard work, built communities, and preserved their culture, language, and memory of Ukraine. Today, their contribution has been officially recognized at the provincial level. We congratulate Argentina’s Ukrainian community on this important step forward. It is another example of how the Ukrainian community has preserved its history for decades and made it an integral part of the history of its countries.
– Ukrainian World Congress
The establishment of this commemorative date is intended to honor the contribution of Ukrainians and their descendants to the development of Misiones, as well as their role in preserving Ukrainian culture and historical memory in Argentina.
Other topics you might like:
