Spain celebrates its National Day with a great military parade

USPA NEWS - Spain celebrated its National Day on Tuesday, a day commemorating the discovery of America by the fleet led by Christopher Columbus and which was established in 1892, coinciding with the 400th anniversary of this feat, by the regency of Maria Cristina. At that time, a royal decree established the anniversary as a national holiday in Spain, although it was not until five years later, in 1897, that the law was approved that established October 12 as a National Day and explained the reasons for making both coincide dates.

"October 12 symbolizes the historical anniversary in which Spain, about to conclude a process of State construction based on our cultural and political plurality, and the integration of the Kingdoms of Spain into the same Monarchy, begins a period of linguistic and cultural projection beyond European limits,” explains the law passed in 1897. Initially, the October 12 festival was called Hispanic Day, Columbus Day in the U.S. and Day of Race during the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco. It was not until 1987 that a new law established that what is celebrated on October 12 in Spain is the National Day.

Known as Hispanic Day in some Central and South American countries, and as Columbus Day in the United States, the date commemorates the discovery of America by the fleet led by the Genoese sailor Christopher Columbus, who was financed by the Catholic Monarchs of Spain. On October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus landed on Guananí Island, in the Bahamas archipelago, thus establishing a bridge between America and Spain that still remains today.

Military Parade

For years, the National Holiday has been celebrated with a military parade and a reception at the Royal Palace in Madrid. The Kings of Spain, Felipe VI and Letizia, and the Infanta Sofía, presided over the parade held in Madrid on Tuesday. Missing the Princess of Asturias, Leonor de Borbón, who is studying in the United Kingdom and within a week she will have to travel to Spain to deliver the awards that bear her name. The kings were received with cheers and applause by the large audience on the Paseo de la Castellana in Madrid, quite the opposite of the President of the Government, the socialist Pedro Sanchez, who was received with cries of "traitor" and "resignation" by the Spaniards present in the parade.

With fewer troops than in previous years, due to the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, the air parade counted, on this occasion, with the participation of 68 aircraft including fighters, transport planes and helicopters that flew over Paseo de la Castellana in direction south north. In addition, aircrafts from Maritime Rescue, the National Police Corps and the Tax Agency participated in the air parade.

For its part, the land parade opened with a mechanized component made up of 114 vehicles, under the command of the General Chief of the Parachute Infantry Brigade 'Almogávares VI', which included representations of veterans of the Armed Forces and the Guard Civilian, volunteer reservists and personnel with disabilities. Next, the first group on foot paraded which was led by the Royal Guard and national and foreign flags and banners. The second group under the command of the Chief of the Mine Action Force and made up of a battalion of the Navy, a squad of the Air Force, a company of the Military Emergency Unit and a company of the Reserve and Security Group of the Civil Guard.

The third group on foot, under the command of the Colonel Chief of the Infantry Regiment 'Zaragoza nº 5', formed by a battalion of the Army, composed of the Squad of Spenders, War Band, Command and Command Staff, Company of the Flag 'Ortiz de Zárate' III / 5 of Paratroopers (BPAC III), and Company of the Regiment of Mountain Hunters 'Galicia 6'; followed by a mixed battalion of the Army, composed of the Squad of Spenders, War Band, Command and Command Staff, Company of the 'Immemorial del Rey Nº 1' Regiment, and Company of the 'Alcántara 10' Regiment.

Finally, the fourth group on foot commanded by the Colonel Chief of the Tercio Gran Capitán 1º of the Legion (TERLEG 1), made up of the TERLEG Flag No. 1 and a Table of Regulars from the Group of Regulars of Ceuta No. 54. As a final touch, the 'Eagle Patrol' flew over the parade itinerary and a company of the Civil Guard proceeded to lower the National Flag that put an end to the celebration of the National Holiday.

Royal reception

At the end of the acts and after being dismissed by the President of the Government, the Minister of Defense and the Chief of Defense Staff, the Kings of Spain moved in a caravan, escorted by the Royal Escort Squad and the Motorcycle Section of the Royal Guard, to the Royal Palace of Madrid, where the reception took place on the occasion of the National Holiday.

In the Throne Room, the Kings received the greeting of the assistants, belonging to the Powers of the State, Government of the Nation, presidents of Autonomous Communities, Political Groups, Congress of Deputies, Senate, Constitutional Court, General Council of the Judicial Power, Supreme Court, Council of State, Court of Accounts, State Attorney General, and Ombudsman, as well as the rest of the assistants, from all social spheres of national public life. Once the greetings were over, the reception began, which took place in the Gala Dining Room and the Gasparini and Carlos III Rooms.