El 12 de Octubre has many different meanings in the Spanish-speaking world. For some people it is el Día de Colón, the day Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas. For some, it is el Día de la Hispanidad, a day to celebrate one’s connection with all other Spanish-speaking people, regardless of their country. And for others, it is el Día de la Raza, a day when indigenous people come together as a community and celebrate their heritage. Other Spanish speakers celebrate their mixed heritage of indigenous, African, and European cultures. How you celebrate depends very much on you and your family’s origin and on the community where you live. For all Spanish-speaking groups, el 12 de octubre marks a key turning point in the lives and cultures of the people in Spain and those living in the Americas.