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Quick Facts : National Day
| Date: 12th
October |
Type:
National |
Also Known as:
Hispanic Day |
| Celebrations:
Flag Hoisting, Parades, Air Show |
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October 12 is celebrated as the National Day
or Fiesta Nacional de Espana in Spain. It is
also called the Hispanic Day or the Dia de
la Hispanidad. The day is celebrated to
commemorate the arrival of Columbus in
Americas in 1906. It is also celebrated as
the day of the Armed Forces in Spain.
It was on August 3, 1492 that Columbus first
set foot from the port of Palod de la
Frontera in Spain. He ended up on an island
that’s part of the Caribbean now. Up until
1987, the day was celebrated as the Hispanic
Day in Spain to celebrate the country’s
association with Hispanidad. Hispanidad is a
common community formed by countries of
Hispanic origin. In 1987, through an
official order, the day was renamed as the
National Day of Spain. Prior to that, the
National Day of Spain used to be celebrated
on different dates over the years. The
Hispanic Day was renamed as the National Day
as a compromise between the Republicans and
Conservatives. The Conservatives wanted to
showcase the rich cultural heritage of the
country while the Republicans wanted to
showcase the strengthening democracy of the
country.
The day sees muted celebrations in the
country. It is marked with raising of
Spain’s National Flag in Madrid by the king
of Spain. The flag raising ceremony is
followed by a military parade which
showcases the country’s weapons and
artillery. An air show also takes place with
the armed forces performing acrobatic
maneuvers in the air. Other than that, there
is not much celebration on the streets. It
is a public holiday. Therefore, most of the
shops and all the offices are closed on this
day. Most of the people stay at home with
their families and watch the live telecast
of the parade and air show on TV.
The day is also celebrated in other
countries by different names to commemorate
the arrival of Columbus in Americas. In
Bahamas, it is celebrated as the Discovery
Day; in Costa Rica, it is the Day of the
Cultures; in Argentine, it is the Day of the
Races; while in Chile and Mexico, October 12
is celebrated as the Day of Indigenous
Resistance. |
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Other holidays celebrated in Spain
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