A holiday with competing names
Argentina's October 12 holiday has generated debate over its official name. In recent years it was known as Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity, but the national government's 2026 holiday calendar again identifies it as Day of the Race. According to a report seen by Agencia Noticias Argentinas, current legislation still uses the name Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity, adding to the controversy. The date commemorates Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas in 1492, which marked the beginning of cultural exchange between Indigenous peoples and Spanish conquistadors.[S1]
The day has several names with a common aim: to mark the first encounter between two worlds. It is known as Day of the Race, Day of Indigenous Resistance, Day of Hispanicity, and Day of Cultural Diversity. In Spain it is specifically called Day of Hispanicity. In Argentina, it was known for decades as Day of the Race, a name tied to Columbus's 1492 arrival, but over time that interpretation was revised to include other voices and historical perspectives.[S1]
In 1917, Argentina observed the date as Day of the Race. In the late 1920s, Monsignor Zacarías de Vizcarra proposed renaming it Day of Hispanicity. Today it is known as Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity. Different positions led some countries to change the name from Day of the Race to terms referring to cultural exchange, Hispanicity, or Indigenous resistance. Some nations, including Panama and Peru, do not treat it as a public holiday.[S1]
How other countries mark the date
Bolivia now calls it Day of Decolonization. Chile renamed it Day of the Encounter of Two Worlds under Law 19,668 of 2000 and celebrates it on the Monday closest to October 12 if the date falls between Tuesday and Friday. Colombia knows it as Day of the Race and Hispanicity under Law 35 of 1939 and observes it on the following Monday. Spain initially celebrated it as Festival of the Race until 1958 and today calls it National Day of Spain.[S1]
In the United States it is Columbus Day. Uruguay celebrates Day of Cultural Diversity, and Venezuela has called it Day of Indigenous Resistance since 2002 at the request of Indigenous organizations.[S1]
Argentina's shift and its meaning
Every October 12, Argentina commemorates the Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity, a date that invites reflection on the country's history, the encounter between peoples, and the consequences of European arrival in the Americas. The day seeks to promote respect for the different cultures, identities, and traditions that make up society. Unlike what was known as Day of the Race, the current commemoration proposes a critical view of the historical processes of conquest and colonization, as well as recognition of the rights of Indigenous peoples.[S2]
The date recalls Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492, an event that marked the start of a profound transformation for the continent and its inhabitants. For centuries, the anniversary was associated with the idea of an encounter between two worlds and the legacy of Spanish culture. That interpretation was later revised to incorporate the consequences of conquest on Indigenous communities, including loss of territories, cultural imposition, various forms of violence, and subjugation. In Argentina, the aim of the commemoration is to recognize cultural diversity and promote intercultural dialogue while acknowledging the inequalities and conflicts that have marked the continent's history.[S2]
For much of the 20th century, October 12 was known in Argentina as Day of the Race. That name was linked to a historical interpretation that highlighted Hispanic heritage and the formation of a shared cultural identity. Over time, the name was questioned because it did not reflect the diversity of American peoples or the consequences of colonization for Indigenous communities. In 2010, through Decree 1584/2010, the government established the change to Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity. The modification sought to move away from a race-centered vision toward a perspective that recognized cultural plurality and respect for the identities of peoples.[S2]
The commemoration invites a review of the past and recognition that Argentine society is made up of multiple identities, traditions, and cultural expressions. Its main objectives include recognizing Indigenous peoples by valuing their history, languages, customs, and rights; reflecting on the conquest of America to understand its social, political, and cultural consequences; and promoting respect for cultural diversity.[S2]
