Spain on show. Nationalism and internationalism in the presentation of the 12th october holiday under the post-war Francoism

Abstract

Since the early twentieth century the celebration of the 12 October, the anniversary of Columbus’ first landing, has served as a reminder of the importance of Spain’s links with the Americas as a part of Spanish national identity. Nostalgia for empire and the resulting image of international importance, enriched with diverse narratives, have helped build a myth of a Spanish identity with universal ambitions, one useful for political regeneration, social cohesion and diplomacy. This article analyzes the versatility of this symbol under the Franco dictatorship in the post-Civil War years, centering upon its public presentations in 1940 and 1947. Open to contradictory interpretations, these celebrations reflected the different Falangist and National-Catholic political cultures, and the distribution of areas of power. We will examine their contexts, their international impact, their representation in public space, the actors involved, and the exhibitions that complemented public rituals in Madrid and, given the event’s transnational significance, in Buenos Aires. We will also indicate the ways in which cultural symbols of Spanish nationalism associated with the day, such as the Conquest of the Americas or the language of Cervantes, were updated and given new meanings as part of the invention of identity, depending on political circumstance and international objectives.