This past Monday, I celebrated a national holiday recognized in both Spain and the United States: Columbus Day. On this day, called Fiesta Nacional, the Spaniards celebrate both Christopher Columbus' discovery of America in 1492 and the unification of Spain in the same year.
Queen Isabel and King Fernando of Spain played the leading role in both events by financing Columbus' journey and by raging war against the Muslims' hold of Granada. The latter brought an end to the 800-year Spanish Reconquista, a movement to create a Spanish-dominated, Christian Spain.
I was hoping for a big celebration in Granada like Independence Day in America, with all the fireworks, parades and patriotism. There was none of that, but I did get the day off from classes.
I know that at least one parade occurs on Fiesta Nacional - a military parade in Madrid that the current king and queen attend. That's respectable and everything, but the Spaniards need to bring more liveliness and sparkle to this holiday. After all, the holiday name translates to National Party. I was thinking some salsa dancing in the streets and free gelato would be a nice addition.
OK, maybe the Madridians deserve more credit. I paid a visit to their city last week, and I have to say, it didn't disappoint.
I loved Madrid's modern art museum, Reina Sofía. I stood in front of Pablo Picasso's masterpiece Guernica and pondered the bizarre, inventive works of Salvador Dalí and Joan Miró. I also discovered a new favorite painting - Un Mundo (A World) by Ángeles Santos.
Here in Granada, history was celebrated with a Renaissance fair in the plaza outside the cathedral. This was an appropriate location since the cathedral is the burial site of Isabel and Fernando.
The festival was complete with pigs roasting on spits, traveling musicians in period-garb and a bazaar of local-artisans selling handcrafted jewelry, clothes and art. I bought a pair of harem pants, also known as Aladdin pants; they are all the rage.
In the name of the holiday, I toured the cathedral Isabel and Fernando had built after their victorious capture of Granada. The main sanctuary holds the sculpted marble tombs of these powerful monarchs lying side by side. The Italian sculptor made Isabel's head sink deeper into her stone pillow than Fernando's because she was said to be the brain of the pair - a nice touch, don't you think?
- Merete Kenworthy is a sophomore studying journalism and is writing from Granada, Spain. Send her an e-mail at mk369507@ohiou.edu.
3 Culture
Merete Kenworthy
