Columbus, the Virgin Mary and the Soldiers

Today Spain has been celebrating one of the most Spanish of annual holidays. Here in the Alpujarras and right across Andalucía and beyond, October 12th is celebrated with parades and parties to commemorate three special things. Firstly, it is Columbus Day and Spain joins countries across north, central and south America in remembering the day in 1492 when Cristobal Colón, as he is known here, set foot in the New World.

Secondly, it is a day to pay respects to Nuestra Señora del Pilar, Our Lady of the Pillar, the legendary apparition of the Virgin Mary to the apostle James in the Roman province of Iberia. In this form she is one of the national icons of Spain and the patron saint of the city of Zaragoza. 

Thirdly, October 12th is seen as the day of the armed forces and police. The King and the rest of the royal family and government always spend today reviewing a parade and fly-past, a little like during Veterans Day in the US, Anzac Day in Australia and New Zealand and Trooping the Colour in the UK.