A date related to history
October 12th is Spain's National Day, a holiday related to one of the most important events in Spanish history: the arrival of Christopher Columbus's expedition in America in 1492.
The date is also linked to Hispanidad, a concept related to the Spanish language and to the historical and cultural ties developed between Spain and numerous territories in America.
What does Hispanidad mean?
Hispanidad refers to the group of countries, peoples, and cultures historically related to Spain and, especially, to the Spanish language, as Spanish constitutes one of their main elements of unity, although each country has developed its own customs, traditions, and forms of expression.
Hispanic culture brings together very different realities; literature, music, cinema, gastronomy, art, and popular traditions have evolved differently in each territory, but despite these differences, there is a cultural bond between Spain and the Spanish-speaking countries of America, built over centuries of history and reinforced by the shared use of the language. This bond is reflected in elements such as language, literature, religion, certain customs, gastronomy, and specific artistic expressions which, although they have acquired unique characteristics in each country, have shared historical roots, even though in American countries like Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Chile, and many others, Spanish also coexists with indigenous languages and other native cultures.
The language has allowed writers, musicians, artists, and filmmakers from different countries to be part of a common culture. We find, for example, that Miguel de Cervantes, Gabriel García Márquez, Jorge Luis Borges, Pablo Neruda, and Isabel Allende belong to different countries and eras, but their works are part of an extensive cultural tradition developed in Spanish.
Why is October 12th celebrated?
On October 12, 1492, the expedition led by Christopher Columbus arrived at a Caribbean island after crossing the Atlantic Ocean, and that event opened a new stage of permanent contact between Europe and America.
The process that began then profoundly transformed both continents. Exchanges of products, animals, knowledge, and customs took place over the centuries; Spanish, both the language itself and its expressions and traditions, spread throughout much of the American continent, and new societies emerged that developed their own cultural identities.
From Columbus Day to National Day
The name used for this celebration has changed throughout history.
During the 20th century, expressions such as Día de la Raza and Día de la Hispanidad were used, but currently, the official designation is Spain's National Day, although the term Día de la Hispanidad remains common in the media and in everyday language.
Hispanidad and National Day are related, but they do not mean exactly the same thing.
The former refers primarily to a cultural and historical reality linked to the Hispanic world, while the latter is the official celebration of Spain.
How is it celebrated today?
The October 12th parade
The most well-known event of the National Day is the military parade in Madrid, in which the Armed Forces, the Civil Guard, the National Police, and various units and state bodies participate.
One of the central moments is the tribute to the flag and to members of the armed forces and security services who have died in the line of duty, after which the parade takes place, including military vehicles and aircraft, as well as the units that march through the streets of Madrid. The act is presided over by the King, accompanied by the Royal Family and representatives of the main Spanish institutions.
The Virgin of the Pillar in Zaragoza
October 12th also has a special meaning in Zaragoza, where the feast of the Virgin of the Pillar, the city's patron saint, is celebrated.
The Fiestas del Pilar include concerts, cultural activities, religious acts, and numerous popular celebrations, but one of its best-known moments is the Offering of Flowers, in which thousands of people walk through the streets of Zaragoza to bring flowers to the Virgin.
According to religious tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared to the Apostle James by the Ebro River upon a column on this day, which was the origin of the devotion to the Virgin of the Pillar.
