America and Spanish Nationalism: the Celebration of 12th October, from Francoism to Democracy

Abstract

American dimension of Spanish identity was in the service of political and national regeneration throughout the twentieth century. With institutional support, it was consecrated in the celebration of the very existence of Spain: on 12th October. The commemoration survived in the official party calendar of different political regimes and transformed throughout the century. It was «Fiesta de la Raza», «Día de la Hispanidad» and the day ended as the Spanish national day since 1987. The celebrations were sparked different meanings and around them, actors, institutions and resources were deployed to affirm national, regional and local identities. The article stops, almost ethnographic and from empirical basis, in the celebrations of October 12th 1960 and 1977 during the Francoism regime and the beginning of democracy. The aim is to show how the celebration was adapted to different contexts and territories of the nation, deployed political intentions and updated social imaginary to the formation of the Spanish national identity and its international expansion.