Every year on October 12, Spain turns into a place of special significance, where religious and historical meanings intertwine. In Zaragoza, thousands gather at the majestic basilica to honor the Virgen del Pilar, the patron saint of Aragón. At the same time, the entire country remembers the date when the ships of Cristóbal Colón first reached the shores of the New World. This coincidence became the foundation for a holiday that unites Spaniards and the peoples of Latin America.
According to tradition, at the very beginning of the Christian era, the apostle Santiago el Mayor preached on the banks of the Ebro. There, legend has it, the Virgin Mary appeared to him, standing on a column of jasper. This event is considered the first recorded apparition of the Virgin in Christian history. On the site of this miracle, a small chapel was built, which later became the grand temple that today stands as one of the world’s most important pilgrimage centers.
Although church tradition points to January 2, 40 AD as the date of the apparition, celebrations in honor of the Virgen del Pilar are held specifically on October 12. This is because on that day in 1492, Colón discovered America, and later the city council of Zaragoza chose this date for the festival. Subsequently, Pope Clemente XII officially designated this day as a special occasion to honor the Virgen del Pilar.
The veneration of Our Lady of the Pillar eventually spread far beyond Aragon. During their missionary work in the Americas, Spanish priests carried this image with them, and it became a symbol of faith and cultural connection between Spain and the new lands. In the mid-20th century, Pope Pius XII (Pío XII) called the Virgin of the Pillar the ‘mother of the Spanish-speaking world,’ and a few years later, the ‘queen of Spanish-speaking peoples.’ Later, in the 1980s, Pope John Paul II (Juan Pablo II) recognized her in prayer as the patroness of all Spanish-speaking countries.
Interestingly, even earlier, in 1928, another image of the Virgin — Our Lady of Guadalupe (Virgen de Guadalupe) — was also proclaimed the ‘queen of the Spanish-speaking world’ in the presence of King Alfonso XIII (Alfonso XIII). Both images — from Extremadura and Aragon — have become iconic for millions of people on both sides of the Atlantic, highlighting a shared historical and cultural heritage.
Today, the Feast of the Pillar is more than a religious event. It brings together people who see it as a symbol of unity, remembrance, and respect for the past. On this day, Zaragoza hosts colorful parades, concerts, and public festivities, while other cities in Spain and Latin America honor their roots. October 12 serves as a reminder of how closely the destinies of Spanish-speaking peoples are intertwined, and how a single tradition can build a bridge between continents.
