OCTOBER 12, 2024 — Today, Spain celebrates , the Día de la Hispanidad, a national holiday that commemorates Columbus’s arrival in the Americas.
While the celebration typically includes a grand display of patriotism, this year’s festivities were impacted by rain, leading to the cancellation of both the ceremonial arrival of the Spanish flag by air and the Patrulla Águila (Eagle Patrol) flyby, which usually colors the sky with the red and yellow of Spain’s flag, reported El País.
In a display of unity, members of the government, including the Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) and Sumar, stood alongside the opposition and regional presidents, reported euronews. Notably, Salvador Illa, President of the Catalan Government, attended for the first time in 14 years, symbolizing a temporary easing of tensions between Catalonia and the central government.
However, the Spainish flag was not without controversy this year. According to Heraldo, in the town of Benasque, local PSOE officials opposed the raising of the Spanish flag, fearing it might offend the town’s visitors, 60% of whom are from Catalonia. They proposed raising the Benasque, Aragon, and European Union flags instead, or alongside the Spanish flag. Despite this, the Spanish flag was raised at noon on Friday. The mayor of Benasque commented, “Everyone can say what they want,” but expressed confusion over the idea that “someone thinks you can do some damage with the flag of Spain.”
The Spanish flag consists of three horizontal bands: red (top), yellow (double width), and red, with the national coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band. The red and yellow colors are tied to the oldest Spanish kingdoms—Aragon, Castile, León, and Navarre—symbolizing the nation’s deep historical roots.
Image: César Astudillo, CC BY-NC 2.0