The Fiesta del Pilar day is celebrated in Spain today, October 12th, in honor of Nuestra Señora del Pilar. She happens to be the patron saint of Spain’s Guardia Civil, a dedication that appears to have its roots in the year 1864. The Virgen del Pilar was declared officially as Patron of the Corps in 1913.

I had some unpleasant declarations to make the other day at a Guardia Civil post, somewhere on the island. Whilst I was waiting for procedures to take their course – for the best part of three hours – I witnessed a constant coming and going of visitors who all seemed to bring boxes full of goodies. I suspect that the offerings consisted of bottles of vino, cans of embutidos, and other delicacies to eat and drink at the forthcoming celebrations. Once finished with my affairs, I offered my best wishes for the Día de la Patrona, but was not rewarded with an invitation to the proceedings.

Of course, it is worthwhile to know that today’s saint’s day also coincides with the Día de la Hispanidad, celebrating the arrival of Cristóbal Colón in the Americas, and thus the discovery of the New World. The day is celebrated elsewhere as Columbus Day, Día de la Resistencia Indígena, Día de la Raza, Día de las Culturas, etc. 

As the holiday happens to fall on a Sunday, this year, Spain will observe a Public Holiday tomorrow, Monday.  

The photo was taken somewhere in Mallorca, Spain. The date: October 10th, 2008. The time was 17:30:14.