Today, the 12th of October, Spain celebrates its national holiday – “El Día De La Hispanidad”. But do you know how to say this holiday in English? Well, it’s a little tricky, it depends. First, we need to look at the history of this holiday and then you can decide which name you find the most appropriate.
The National Day of Spain is the day on which the Spanish people commemorate the country’s history, celebrating unity and fraternity and shows Spain’s connections with the international community.
This day also commemorates the discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus for Spain on October 12th, 1492. The date is a key point for Spain’s overseas influence and legacy to the world and specifically to the Americas. However, due to a somewhat dark history of colonisation, the day has been renamed in many Latin American countries.
The 12th of October is also an official holiday in much of Latin America, although with varying names (Hispanic Day, Race Day, Day of Respect And Cultural Diversity, Indigenous Resistance Day 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. Also, on the second Monday in October, the United States celebrates Columbus Day.
So, as you can see, this day has a variety of names depending on where you are. Here in Spain, La Fiesta Nacional De España or El Día De La Hispanidad or El Día De Las Fuerzas Armadas is usually celebrated with an official military parade in Madrid, attended by the Royal Family and the armed forces, and little else. It generally doesn’t have the same status as other National Holidays around the world such as Saint Patrick’s Day in The Republic of Ireland or Independence Day in the United States.
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