Why does October 12 have different names across Latin America? From Día de la Raza to Día de la Resistencia Indígena, the names given to this date reveal different ways of interpreting history, shaping collective identity and remembering the past.

In Argentina, October 12 is dedicated to respect for cultural diversity. In Venezuela, it commemorates Indigenous resistance. In Bolivia, it is known as the Day of Decolonization.

Three countries, three names and three different approaches to a shared historical event: the arrival of Christopher Columbus’s expedition in the Caribbean in 1492.

While October 12 is Spain’s national holiday, commonly known as Día de la Hispanidad, several Latin American countries have gradually chosen to highlight other aspects of this history.

What happened on October 12, 1492?

Christopher Columbus arrives in the Caribbean

On October 12, 1492, after several weeks crossing the Atlantic Ocean, an expedition led by Christopher Columbus reached an island in the Bahamas known to its inhabitants as Guanahaní. Columbus renamed it San Salvador.

Sailing under the patronage of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, Columbus was seeking a westward maritime route to Asia. He did not realise that he had reached lands belonging to a continent previously unknown to Europeans of his time.

The precise identification of Guanahaní with a present-day island remains a subject of historical debate. It is also important to remember that Columbus did not reach the American mainland on that day: he landed on an island in the Caribbean.

Was America really “discovered”?

The expression “discovery of America” has long dominated European historical narratives. However, it primarily reflects the perspective of European explorers.

By 1492, the Americas had already been inhabited for thousands of years. They were home to a remarkable diversity of peoples, languages, cultures and political organisations.

The Taíno societies of the Caribbean, the civilisations of Mesoamerica and the populations of the Andes all had their own histories long before Europeans arrived.

European expansion led to exchanges of plants, animals, knowledge and technologies. However, it also brought military conquest, population displacement, colonial exploitation and profound demographic changes, particularly through diseases introduced from the Old World.

This wording describes the event without suggesting that the history of the Americas began with the arrival of Europeans.

From Día de la Raza to new commemorative names

For much of the twentieth century, several Latin American countries commemorated October 12 as Día de la Raza, literally “Day of the Race”.

This name emerged in a context in which certain intellectuals and political leaders sought to emphasise the historical, cultural and linguistic connections between Spain and Spanish-speaking American countries.

In this context, the Spanish word raza did not always refer to a strictly biological concept of race. It could also represent an imagined historical and cultural community centred on Hispanic heritage.

Nevertheless, this perspective had significant limitations. By prioritising Spanish heritage, it could minimise the diversity of Indigenous peoples, Afro-descendant communities and other populations that contributed to the development of American societies.

From the late twentieth century onwards, several countries gradually changed the official names of their October 12 commemorations.

These changes accompanied growing recognition of Indigenous rights, social movements and renewed discussions about the consequences of colonialism.

What is October 12 called in Latin America?

Argentina: Día del Respeto a la Diversidad Cultural

Since 2010, October 12 has officially been known in Argentina as Día del Respeto a la Diversidad Cultural, or Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity.

This name replaced Día de la Raza under Decree 1584/2010.

The change reflects a desire to emphasise cultural plurality and recognition of Indigenous peoples.

It encourages a broader understanding of Argentine history, one that goes beyond European heritage to recognise populations who lived there before colonisation and the many communities that have shaped the country.

Venezuela: Día de la Resistencia Indígena

In 2002, Venezuela renamed October 12 Día de la Resistencia Indígena, or Day of Indigenous Resistance.

The change is particularly significant. Whereas earlier commemorations often focused on the arrival of Europeans, this name places Indigenous peoples at the centre of the historical narrative.

The word resistencia highlights the fact that the conquest and colonisation of the Americas were not passively accepted by Indigenous populations.

These communities developed many forms of resistance — military, political, cultural and linguistic — to defend their territories, institutions and ways of life.

Bolivia: Día de la Descolonización

In Bolivia, a decree adopted in 2011 established Día de la Descolonización, or Day of Decolonization.

This name forms part of the country’s political and institutional transformations. Bolivia defined itself as a Plurinational State in its 2009 Constitution.

Here, descolonización means more than the historical end of Spanish colonial rule. It also refers to efforts to challenge social, cultural and political hierarchies inherited from the colonial period.

Bolivia provides a particularly interesting example of the relationship between history, language and national identity.

Spanish coexists with numerous Indigenous languages, including Quechua, Aymara and Guaraní.

Colombia: Día de la Diversidad Étnica y Cultural de la Nación Colombiana

In Colombia, a 2021 resolution issued by the Ministry of Culture adopted the name Día de la Diversidad Étnica y Cultural de la Nación Colombiana, or Day of the Ethnic and Cultural Diversity of the Colombian Nation.

This wording highlights the diversity of the populations that make up Colombian society.

It acknowledges the contributions of Indigenous peoples, Afro-Colombian communities, Raizal and Palenquero populations, and other groups that have shaped the country’s cultural history.

The new name seeks to move beyond a homogeneous understanding of national identity.

Chile: Encuentro de Dos Mundos

In Chile, the expression Encuentro de Dos Mundos, meaning “Encounter of Two Worlds”, is associated with the October 12 commemoration.

The phrase emphasises historical contact between European and American societies. However, this commemorative expression should be distinguished from the terminology used in legislation concerning the public holiday.

The idea of an “encounter” is itself debated.

For some, it acknowledges cultural transformations and exchanges following 1492. For others, it risks downplaying the violence and unequal power relations associated with the conquest.

Chile illustrates how even a seemingly inclusive name can generate different interpretations.

One date, different historical memories

What is the difference between history and memory?

These different names illustrate an important distinction: history and memory are not exactly the same thing.

History seeks to investigate and interpret the past through evidence, critical methods and documentary research.

Memory refers to the ways individuals and communities remember the past, pass it on and give it meaning in the present.

The two are closely connected, but they are not interchangeable.

When a government changes the name of a commemoration, it does not alter past events. It changes how those events are publicly remembered.

It is also important to distinguish official commemorations from individual and collective memories. People within the same country do not necessarily share a single interpretation of their history.

Indigenous languages: evidence of a diverse history

The debates surrounding October 12 highlight a reality that is sometimes overlooked by European language learners: Latin America is not exclusively Spanish-speaking or Portuguese-speaking.

Numerous Indigenous languages are still spoken throughout the region.

Quechua, Aymara, Guaraní, Nahuatl and the many Mayan languages represent linguistic traditions that existed long before 1492 and continue to evolve today.

These languages are not simply remnants of the past. They are used in everyday life, education, artistic expression and contemporary cultural movements.

Spanish words with Indigenous origins

Latin American Spanish itself reflects this linguistic diversity.

These examples show how contact between languages has enriched Spanish vocabulary.

Understanding this diversity helps us move beyond a uniform image of the Spanish-speaking world.

Learning Spanish also means understanding different historical memories

For Spanish learners, the different names given to October 12 offer an excellent starting point for exploring the cultural and historical richness of the Spanish-speaking world.

Essential Spanish vocabulary

Expressing your opinion in Spanish

These questions can be used for an oral debate, a written assignment or preparation for Spanish-language examinations.

Frequently asked questions

October 12: a date that invites us to rethink the past

More than five centuries after Christopher Columbus arrived in the Caribbean, October 12 continues to raise questions about history and identity across the Americas.

The changes in commemorative names adopted by several countries show that societies regularly reassess their historical narratives in response to new research, political developments and social demands.

From cultural diversity and Indigenous resistance to decolonization and the encounter between worlds, the names associated with October 12 remind us that a single date can carry profoundly different meanings.

At ELE USAL Strasbourg, we believe that learning Spanish goes beyond grammar and vocabulary. Discovering the cultures, histories and contemporary realities of Spanish-speaking countries is also an essential part of learning a living language.

Sources and further reading

The following references provide access to official decisions concerning the names used for October 12 and to resources on Indigenous linguistic diversity:

• Argentina — Decree 1584/2010.
• Bolivia — Supreme Decree 1005/2011.
• Colombia — Ministry of Culture Resolution 138/2021.
• UNESCO — International Decade of Indigenous Languages.

These sources document institutional decisions and linguistic diversity. They do not imply that all communities share the same interpretation of history.