Overview

• In Mexico the date is not a public holiday, and since 2020 it is officially recognized by federal decree as Día de la Nación Pluricultural, with 2025’s observance falling on a weekend.
• Spain marks the day as Día de la Hispanidad with the Fiesta Nacional, typically featuring military parades and official acts led by the Royal House and the Government.
• Argentina renamed the date in 2010 to Día del Respeto a la Diversidad Cultural, but in 2024 the Milei government reverted to Día de la Raza and framed Columbus’s expedition as ushering in progress and civilization.
• Many Indigenous communities describe October 12 as a dark day linked to dispossession and continue to press for reparations and rights related to territory, health, education, work, and housing.
• The Día de la Raza label traces to early 20th‑century promoters such as Mexico’s José Vasconcelos and Spain’s Faustino Rodríguez‑San Pedro, underscoring long‑running efforts to define the date’s meaning.