At the recent 20th Anniversary celebration in September, Beatriz García was on stage as part of the alumni roundtable. A month later she is back centre stage to talk about the national day in her home country of Spain, which she left 8 years ago to study at the University of Luxembourg. After getting her PhD degree, she stayed here to work as a researcher. Beatriz shared her thoughts on national day celebrations in Spain and how the context is changing over time.
When is the national day in Spain and how is it celebrated?
The National Day of Spain is the 12 October. There are several things that are celebrated on this day: on one hand, it commemorates a period in which our culture started to go beyond our boundaries, and it is celebrated with a military parade among other events. On the other hand, for many people, it is also an important religious day in which they offer flowers to the Lady of the Pillar.
This day is largely about what it means to be Spanish because we have a very rich history with a significance that has evolved over time. Thus, in the past, it celebrated our colonial past of Spain in the world. But today, it celebrates our union with Hispanic American countries with which we share a rich and diverse culture.
Is there something you do on this day, like a typical food or drink you would have on a national day?
You just eat and drink typical traditional food, nothing very specific for this day, but it is always a good day to share a paella with family and friends. Further, most of the museums and theaters are free to attend so for me and my friends it was always a good day to do a bit of culture. Many people attend the military parade and the Hispanic parade with music, traditional dresses, and food from different Hispanic-American countries.
Do you think it is important to celebrate a national day?
Yes, I think it is an important day to celebrate because it is also a good opportunity to self-reflect on what it means to be Spanish, or what it means to be from a specific country. For me, I am proud of being Spanish especially because of the democratic values and freedom we demonstrate through a respectful, open-minded, and friendly society. I believe these values will be key to fighting future challenges. I think many Spanish people focus on celebrating diversity, and I think it is a great way to look at it.