Historically referred to as “Columbus Day” in the US, October twelfth must be acknowledged as greater than a commemoration of 1 man’s voyage. It stands as a strong image of cultural connection and shared heritage between the Americas and Europe, a day to rejoice the wealthy Hispanic legacy that transcends borders and unites tens of millions throughout continents.
Whereas the precise origins of Christopher Columbus stay debated—some imagine he was Genoese, others recommend he could have been Galician, Portuguese, and even Greek—his journey was undeniably tied to Spain. Columbus sailed beneath the Catholic Monarchs, setting the stage for an period of exploration that may reshape the world. But, Columbus was only one determine in Spain’s in depth maritime custom, with explorers like Juan de la Cosa, the Pinzón brothers, and Juan Sebastián Elcano persevering with to map the globe properly into the sixteenth century.
This world exploration, notably within the Caribbean, created a profound cultural trade. Ships didn’t simply carry folks and items; they transported traditions, meals, music, and concepts, laying the inspiration for the Hispanic tradition that tens of millions of individuals throughout Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia share at present. As an example, the tortilla española options American potatoes, flamenco has absorbed musical influences from throughout the Atlantic, and cowboy tradition, with its roots in Spain, took on a brand new life within the American West.
October twelfth isn’t about glorifying conquest. Reasonably, it’s a celebration of the shared historical past, legacy, and cultural fusion which have enriched the world. The Hispanic heritage is deeply embedded within the cloth of the US, a reality acknowledged by figures like poet Walt Whitman, filmmaker Orson Welles, and President John F. Kennedy, who all admired and embraced its affect on American life.
As we speak, this heritage continues to thrive, reminding us that the twelfth of October isn’t just a day of the previous—it’s a celebration of a residing tradition that continues to unite and encourage throughout continents.
Antonio Moreno Ruiz Nacido en Bollullos de la Mitación (Sevilla, España), en 1981. Historiador licenciado por la Universidad de Sevilla, con máster en Educación Secundaria y especializado en Historia de América. Comunicador y escritor. Amplia experiencia en periodismo, así como en docencia, traducción y proyectos de formación académica y cultural. *Co-fundador de la página “Spanish Heritage”
