What Is Celebrated On October 12Th In Spain?
| National Day of Spain | |
|---|---|
| Official name | Fiesta Nacional de España |
| Observed by | Spain |
| Date | October 12 |
| Frequency | Annual |
The coat of arms of Spain displays the symbols of both medieval and modern Spain and the key transition event between them, the discovery of the New World, represented by the motto “PLUS ULTRA” (further beyond), replacing the previous one, “NON PLUS ULTRA” (nothing further beyond) the Pillars of Hercules (today’s Strait of Gibraltar ) which marked the edge of the known world since Antiquity. The National Day of Spain (Spanish: Fiesta Nacional de España ) is a national holiday held annually on October 12. It is also traditionally and commonly referred to as the Día de la Hispanidad ( Hispanicity , Spanishness ), commemorating Spanish legacy worldwide, especially in Hispanic America.
- The National Day of Spain is the day of celebration on which the Spanish people commemorate the country’s history, recognize and appreciate achievements, reconfirm their commitment to the nation’s future;
The day celebrates unity and fraternity, and also shows Spain’s ties with the international community. Spanish law declares ” The date chosen, October 12, symbolizes the historical anniversary on which Spain, about to conclude a process of State construction based on our cultural and political diversity, and the integration of the kingdoms of Spain into the same monarchy, begins a period of linguistic and cultural projection beyond the boundaries of Europe.
- ” National Day of Spain commemorates the discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus for Spain on October 12, 1492;
- The date is a key point for Spain’s overseas influence and legacy to the world and to the Americas in particular;
It symbolizes Spain’s vast, common heritage with today’s American countries , which made up the Spanish Empire , the first global power in world history. October 12 is also the official Spanish language day, the Feasts of both Our Lady of the Pillar and the Virgin of Guadalupe as well as the Day of the Spanish Armed Forces.
October 12 is also an official holiday in much of Hispanic America , though under varying names (Día de la Hispanidad, Día de la Raza , Día del Respeto a la Diversidad Cultural , Día de la Resistencia Indígena , etc.
To varying degrees, these holidays celebrate the historical and cultural ties among Hispanic American countries, ties between them and Spain, and their common Hispanic and pre-Hispanic indigenous American heritage. Furthermore, on the second Monday in October, the United States celebrates Columbus Day.
What does Spain call Columbus Day?
MADRID (AP) — Pomp, pageantry and a grand military parade marked Spain’s national day ceremonies in Madrid on Tuesday, overshadowing protests against what some see as a misguided celebration of Spanish colonial history. Cavalry members escorted King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia to a platform where the royal couple watched more than 2,600 troops march along the flag-lined Paseo de la Castellana.
- The parade featured dozens of aircraft flying overhead and a 21-gun salute;
- A parachutist with a giant red-and-yellow Spanish flag attached to his ankle landed on the avenue, drawing cheers from the thousands of spectators;
The Día de la Fiesta Nacional, also known as Dia de la Hispanidad, is a public holiday in Spain. The 1987 law which made Oct. 12 the national holiday said it commemorates “the linguistic and cultural projection of Spain outside of its European limits. ” The date marks explorer Christopher Columbus’ Oct.
12, 1492 sighting of land while traveling under Spanish royal sponsorship in search of what came to be known as the Americas. That event heralded centuries of colonization of the Americas by European nations while bringing violence, disease and death to indigenous people.
In Spain, the suffering of native populations during that period has not received the same attention or prompted the kind of historical reevaluation as it has, for example, in the United States, where in many places Columbus Day has been paired or replaced with Indigenous Peoples Day to switch the focus of the annual holiday.
Near to where Tuesday’s official national day celebrations were held in Madrid is a statue of Columbus atop a pedestal. It is 17 meters (56 feet) high. In the U. city of Chicago, by contrast, three statues of Columbus remain in storage by order of the local government after protesters targeted them last summer.
The debate over Columbus’ historical legacy has raged for many years. But it came into sharper focus in the United States after a campaign to remove monuments dedicated to Confederate generals flared into deadly violence in 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Protests staged to coincide with Spain’s national day mostly were driven by other grievances. The king, for instance, received jeers and whistles from people who want to abolish the Spanish monarchy. Regional officials fighting for the independence of Spain’s Catalonia region went to work as normal as a way of thumbing their noses at the country’s central authorities.
Even the anti-establishment, left-wing Unidas Podemos (United We Can) party supported the formal ceremonies in Madrid even though fighting inequality is one of its banner issues. The left-wing party, which is part of Spain’s coalition government, sent its three government ministers to attend the parade.
Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez sought to focus the celebrations on a more modern appreciation of Oct. 12. He said the holiday was meant to celebrate “what bonds us together, what makes us bigger as a society, what makes Spain a friendly, open, diverse country.
” Groups protesting against the tribute to Columbus and his legacy organized scattered demonstrations, including in Madrid, though turnout was light. Joan Felguera, a 17-year-old student attending a protest in Barcelona against crimes committed by Spanish colonizers, said people had to choose how to react to what was known about the period.
“History is history,” he said. “But culture is changing and ways of thinking have evolved. ” But at a separate far-right rally in the northeastern Spanish city, participants argued that the Spanish conquests were benign.
“But now things are being twisted around,” said Ester Lopez, a 40-year-old office worker. Paula Guerra, a Chilean anti-racism activist, said the celebrations ought to be replaced by “an acknowledgment of the damage caused by the horrors” committed by Spain in the Americas.
- “It was a regime of terror;
- It was a regime of barbarism,” she said;
- Dora Turín, 35, who works in Spain’s audiovisual sector, said in advance of the parade that people should reflect positively on Spain’s colonial rule;
“It was a contribution of cultures, in addition to ours,” she said. “It meant adding more knowledge and being able to mix inter-culturally and reach what we are now. ” ___ Barry Hatton reported from Lisbon, Portugal. Germán Martinez and Hernán Muñoz contributed from Barcelona, Spain.
How is Dia de la Hispanidad celebrated in Spain?
October 12th: Hispanic Day
A Holiday of Many Names – Christopher Columbus (or Cristóbal Colón, as he is known in Spanish) first reached the Americas on October 12, 1492. Today, this historic moment is commemorated in many different ways across the globe.
- In Spain, October 12th is often called the Día de la Hispanidad , although the official public holiday is the Fiesta Nacional de España. Spain’s national holiday falls on the same day as its Armed Forces Day, which is observed with a large military parade in Madrid. In Zaragoza, October 12 is also the day of Our Lady of the Pillar. The colorful Fiesta del Pilar is one of Spain’s most famous and popular festivals.
- In the United States, October 12th is known as Columbus Day. Curiously, this day is recognized largely thanks to the influence of Italian-Americans and their immigrant ancestors. This is because Columbus originally came from Genoa, Italy. Many Latin American communities in the U. celebrate this day under the name El Día de la Raza.
- In Mexico and much of Latin America, October 12th is known as the Día de la Raza and is an occasion for celebrating Pre-Columbian cultures.
- In 1994, Costa Rica created the Día de las Culturas to celebrates the contributions of the country’s indigenous, Spanish, African, and Asian cultures.
Across Latin America, October 12th is celebrated under many names in addition to Día de la Raza and Día de la Hispanidad , including
- Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity in Argentina
- Decolonization Day in Bolivia
- Day of Interculturality and Plurinationality in Ecuador
- Day of Indigenous Peoples and Intercultural Dialogue in Peru, and
- Indigenous Resistance Day in Venezuela.
- October 12th is not recognized as a holiday in Cuba.
As we can see, October 12 can be a controversial holiday, and the legacy of Columbus and the Hispanic identity is complicated. Maybe we should keep in mind how “hispanidad” is defined in the Dictionary of the Royal Academy of Spanish or RAE: hispanidad. A generic character of all the people that speak the Spanish language and relate to Hispanic culture. Group and community of Hispanic people.
Why is Columbus Day no longer celebrated?
First, why is Columbus Day a problem? – 
A statue of Christopher Columbus is vandalized with the word ‘murderer. ‘ Nik Wheeler/Corbis via Getty Images For many Indigenous peoples, Columbus Day is a controversial holiday. This is because Columbus is viewed not as a discoverer, but rather as a colonizer. His arrival led to the forceful taking of land and set the stage for widespread death and loss of Indigenous ways of life.
What is the National Day of Spain celebrating?
Spain’s national day, La Fiesta Nacional de España , is October 12. It commemorates the day in 1492 when the first Columbus expedition claimed the Americas for Spain. Rodrigo de Triana, a sailor on the expedition, was the first to see land. Columbus claimed the discovery to earn a reward, but he lied.
The exact location is lost to the mists of time, but is believed to be one of the islands that today is the Bahamas. This claim led to the Spanish Empire which in the Americas lasted until the Spanish-American War of 1898.
October 12 is also the Feast of Our Lady of the Pillar, the patron saint of Zaragoza, Spain. The celebration is complicated for former colonies. We cherish Spanish culture, but being colonized is a brutal experience that tried to erase our own cultural heritage.
Who celebrates Dia de la Raza?
Who Celebrates Dia De La Raza? – Many Latin countries and Spanish speaking countries celebrate Dia De La Raza, including Venezuela, Uruguay, Mexico, Honduras, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Chile and Argentina, commemorate the indigenous people.