Every May 25th, Argentines remember one of the most transcendental milestones in our history: the May Revolution of 1810, the starting point of our autonomous political life.

On that May 25, 1810, a crowd filled the Plaza de la Victoria -currently Plaza de Mayo- led by Domingo French and Antonio Beruti, demanding the summoning of an Open Town Hall and the resignation of the Spanish viceroy Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros.

The popular demand was decisive: after intense days of debate and mobilization, the colonial power was challenged and the First Patriotic Government was formed, a Junta that took command in the name of King Ferdinand VII, by then a prisoner of Napoleon Bonaparte.

This Junta was presided over by Cornelio Saavedra, with Mariano Moreno and Juan José Paso as secretaries, and Manuel Alberti, Miguel de Azcuénaga, Manuel Belgrano, Juan José Castelli, Juan Larrea and Domingo Matheu as members.

The Buenos Aires of 1810 was no stranger to the winds of change blowing in Europe and America. The Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata -which included territories of what today are Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay- was formally under Spanish rule. However, the Napoleonic invasion of Spain in 1808 and the capture of Ferdinand VII created a power vacuum that opened a unique opportunity: the Creoles began to question the legitimacy of the viceroy's authority.

Recent experiences, such as the English invasions, had strengthened the civic and military spirit of the porteños. Meanwhile, in Cadiz they tried to organize the resistance with the creation of a Council of Regency, but in Buenos Aires the discontent was growing.

May Week: chronology of a revolution

The May Revolution was a series of events that took place during May Week, which began on May 18 and culminated on May 25, with the formation of the First Patriotic Government.

This foundational moment was much more than an institutional change: it was the expression of a people who began to take their destiny into their own hands, marking the beginning of a path towards formal independence, which would be realized a few years later.

The May Revolution was, above all, an affirmation of sovereignty and the ideals of freedom, participation and autonomy. More than two centuries after those events, its legacy is still present in our democratic life and in every effort to build a more just, free and sovereign Argentina.

Those who visit the Casa Rosada Museum today will be able to participate in a workshop to create figures of the May Revolutionaries using recycled materials. In addition, at 3 pm there will be an open class and demonstration of traditional dances by the Aída V. Mastrazzi Dance School. The day will include more surprises for the whole family to enjoy, with free admission.

Today we proudly celebrate the birth of our homeland. May the legacy of the May Revolution continue to inspire our present and our future.