Ten things you never knew about... Argentina

Today is the National Day of Argentina, a public holiday celebrating the First National Government of Argentina which was formed on May 25, 1810. Argentina takes its name from a legend that the country contained silver mountains. “Argentum” is the Latin for silver. By area, Argentina is the world’s eighth largest country; by population it comes 32nd. Last year the average person in Argentina consumed 120.2lb of beef. Only the Uruguayans ate more beef (124.2lb). The UK figure is 40lb. During the 1982 Falklands War the song Don’t Cry For Me Argentina was banned by the BBC. After a financial crisis in 2001, Argentina had five presidents in less than two weeks. The official national sport of Argentina is pato, in which teams on horseback compete for possession of a ball with handles. “Pato” is Spanish for “duck”. Originally they used a live duck in a basket instead of a ball. The first World Tramps Congress was held in Mar del Plata, Argentina in 1966. The first International Housewives Congress was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina 1995. If you miss this National Day of Argentina, they have another National Day on July 9, celebrating their Declaration of Independence on July 9, 1816.