SPAIN:October 12th, the date Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492, is celebrated in the US and Latin America as Columbus Day. In Spain it is the Fiesta Nacional, a public holiday marked by a huge military parade and air force fly-past in the centre of Madrid.
Almost 5,000 members of the armed forces took part in the parade with their latest equipment, weapons and toys. They included colourful units from the north African brigades wearing their traditional flowing white Arab capes and red caps, and the white uniformed mountain troops carrying their skis. As always there was a special cheer for the tough Foreign Legion who marched at double pace led by their mascot, a large grey ram, dressed in his ceremonial kit.
The UN blue beret troops serving in peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan and Lebanon were specially honoured this year. The flags of the 27 nations, including the Irish Tricolour, and a UN flag were carried in the parade.
The parade was well rehearsed and passed off peacefully. There were also massive security measures because of fears of a terrorist attack which the interior minister warned was very real following the arrest last week of the leaders of Batasuna, Eta's political front.
The only unpleasant moment occurred when the king, accompanied by prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, stepped forward to lay a wreath in memory of the 10 Spanish soldiers killed in Lebanon and Afghanistan earlier this year. There were boos, whistles and calls for the resignation of Mr Zapatero. These could be heard again after the king left in the black Rolls Royce formerly used by Gen Franco.
This year the traditionally peaceful celebrations have been overshadowed by increased political tension. In recent weeks Spain has seen anti-monarchist demonstrations from left-wing nationalists, who have burned photographs of the king, and from the extreme right who have found their voice in the COPE radio station financed by the Catholic Church.
Many of those lining the route of the parade waved red and yellow Spanish flags. This symbol of Spanish nationalism also caused upset when it was usurped by the leader of the conservative opposition Popular Party (PP) Marinao Rajoy with the release of a video address to the people wishing them a happy national day. Standing by the national flag, he appeared to imitate the king's Christmas message. Members of the other parties have complained that the flag is no longer their banner but a symbol of PP sympathies.
Another issue that has divided the nation has been the government's plan to introduce a historic memory Bill which will recognise and compensate veterans and victims in the 1936-1939 Spanish civil war as well as those who suffered reprisals in the aftermath during the 40 years of the Franco dictatorship. The Bill is particularly close to the heart of Mr Zapatero whose own grandfather was arrested and shot by Franco's troops.
The government can count on support from the United Left (IU) and other smaller parties for the Bill to become law. But it is being vehemently opposed by the PP, which claims it will open up old wounds and stir memories buried in the transition from dictatorship to democracy almost 30 years ago.
PP general secretary Angel Acebes said the government was "obsessed with the past", and his party's parliamentary spokesman Eduardo Zaplana said the government had guilty consciences. "Many of them lived well under Franco. Neither they nor their families were exiled or persecuted," he alleged.
One of the first measures when the Bill is passed will be the removal of all signs and symbols of Franquismo. Although many have disappeared, street names and memorials commemorating civil war heroes can still be seen.
The city of Santander plans to remove the equestrian statue of the dictator in the near future. A similar statue in Madrid, where pro-Franco loyalists met every November 20th on the anniversary of his death, was taken down in the middle of the night a few years ago. Surprisingly, there were few protests although the stump where the statue once stood is sometimes adorned with bunches of flowers or plastic wreaths left by the faithful.