Day of Respect For Cultural Diversity 2023: Date, History, Facts about Latin America

Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity is observed annually in Argentina on October 12. Commemorating the day Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas, the holiday initiates a discourse on the significance of indigenous communities and diversity. Initially celebrated in 1914 under the term “Feast of the Race,” it was subsequently renamed to emphasize the prominence of indigenous communities. The day’s original purpose of honoring the Hispanic influence on the Americas has since been broadened to encompass all cultures.

The background of Day of Respect For Cultural Diversity

Annual observance of Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity occurs on October 12. Over time, the alteration of nomenclature and deviation from the customary date serve as evidence of how indigenous communities have illuminated an alternative, at times neglected, facet of the Americas’ colonial past. In Central and South America, the date marking the arrival of Christopher Columbus was historically referred to as “Día de la Raza” (Day of the Race), until recent years. This name was given to honor the initial encounters that occurred between Europeans and Native Americans. Presently, numerous nations have adopted alternative nomenclature in order to honor the original communities and their diversity.

It is widely acknowledged that Columbus made his maiden voyage to the Americas on October 12, 1492. He arrived at San Salvador Island in the Bahamas while contemplating a maritime route to India. His transatlantic voyages stimulated the exploration and colonization of numerous territories by the Europeans. However, it should be noted that Norsemen had reached the North American continent centuries prior to him, and there is irrefutable evidence that they were the first Europeans to reach the Americas.

While Mexico observed the day in 1928, Argentina did so in 1917, Chile in 1922, Colombia and Venezuela in 1921, and Faustino Rodrguez-San Pedro in 1914, when he established the “Feast of the Race.” In contemporary times, this notion is regarded as misguided and insensitive towards indigenous communities; thus, the name change was inspired. Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity continues as a result.

Day of Respect For Cultural Diversity Quotes, Wishes And Messages

5 Unknown Facts Regarding Latin America

Indigenous languages are among the more than 300 spoken in the region.

An intriguing natural phenomenon in the Amazon is river dolphins, which have a salmon-like hue.

The renowned Panama Canal, situated in Central America, is one such structure.

Latin America is among the most urbanized regions in the globe, with more than 80 percent of its population residing in urban areas.

In the Amazon, 20% of the world’s oxygen is produced.

DAY OF RESPECT FOR CULTURAL DIVERSITY DATES