Straight from the Zombie Planet!

We got a resurrection: Christopher Columbus is back! Yes, resurrected.

On October 9, 2026, Donald Trump made this announcement at the White House, celebrating Columbus Day.

After more than 500 years, Columbus is back from the dead. And we all know who deserves the credit.

Donald Trump, naturally.

Why Only Change the Past?

When I can make myself part of it!

Apparently, restoring Columbus’s reputation wasn’t enough. Trump had to make himself part of the story, too. Because if there’s one thing the president seems to understand, it’s that no historical event is complete until he gets a starring role.

Welcome to the latest episode of American history, where the past gets a makeover, the facts get a little plastic surgery, and the president takes a bow.

What Are We Celebrating to Begin With?

And just in time for October 12, the day when much of the Spanish-speaking world—and plenty of people elsewhere—find themselves arguing about what, exactly, we’re supposed to be celebrating.

But why stop at resurrecting the dead? Trump has also floated the idea of renaming an ocean: the Trump Ocean. Because apparently, the Atlantic has been sitting there for centuries without a proper brand identity.

Different Times, Same Ego

Columbus crossed an ocean to reach lands Europeans didn’t know about—well, not really! Trump wants to rename this ocean everyone already knows.

Different centuries. Same irresistible urge to put your name on something.

Which brings us to the real question: Who gets to name history, who gets to tell it, and who gets to declare themselves the hero?

And to understand why October 12 remains so controversial, we need to start with a simple question: WTF are we celebrating?

Let’s hear it straight from the president.

A True American Hero!

In his 2025 Columbus Day proclamation, Donald Trump called Christopher Columbus “a true American hero.” In his own words:

“Today our Nation honors the legendary Christopher Columbus — the original American hero, a giant of Western civilization, and one of the most gallant and visionary men to ever walk the face of the earth.”

That’s the official version. No Onion headline, no parody, no Franko making things up. Those are the president’s own words.

The Admiral Returns!

And then came the statues.

After a reconstruction of a Columbus statue that had been toppled in Baltimore in 2020 was installed on the White House grounds in 2026, Trump took credit for the resurrection.

At the White House celebration on October 9, 2026, he said:

“I feel that I, with some of the people in this room, we resurrected Christopher Columbus.”

Read That Again

He starts with I, adds some of the people in this room, and ends with we. Apparently, even a resurrection needs a committee.

Columbus has been dead since 1506. Yet here we are in 2026, discussing how the admiral made his comeback, complete with a statue on the White House grounds.

As mentioned, Trump’s rehabilitation campaign had already begun a year earlier. On October 9, 2025, he proclaimed:

“Christopher Columbus was a true American hero, and every citizen is eternally indebted to his relentless determination.”

Columbus: The Original American Hero?

Donald Trump calls Christopher Columbus “the original American hero.”

There’s just one small problem.

Columbus was born in Genoa, sailed for the Spanish Crown, and died in 1506. The United States declared independence in 1776.

That’s right. Columbus had been dead for 270 years before the country that now claims him even existed.

First Illegal Immigrant of a Nonexistent America

Apparently, you don’t need to be born in a country, live in a country, or even know the country exists to become its original hero. You just need someone to put you in the family photo.

And Trump is happy to help.

Columbus gets the starring role. Spain gets a supporting role when convenient. And the United States? Well… It gets to claim him centuries before it even exists. Welcome to ‘Merica, you’all!

What About the Real Americans?

And the Indigenous peoples who were already living in the Americas? Well, somebody has to stand behind the camera, I suppose.

History is a funny thing. Some people spend their lives trying to get into the history books. Others get written into a country’s origin story after they’re dead.

And then there’s Columbus, who has somehow been recruited into a nation that didn’t exist when he was alive.

Not bad for a guy who never even set foot in what is now the United States.

Discovering America—Well, Not Really!

Here’s another little problem with the official hero story: Columbus didn’t set out to discover a continent called America.

He believed he had reached Asia, or the Indies, as Europeans called the region he was trying to reach. He was wrong about where he had landed, but that didn’t stop the voyages from changing history.

America Came Later!

Obviously, we’re talking about the continent. Not a country that didn’t exist yet!

The name America appeared on a world map in 1507, when German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller used it, drawing on the name of Amerigo Vespucci. Columbus had died the year before.

So Columbus never sailed toward a place called America, never knew the continent by that name, and never got to see his own name attached to the holiday debates that would follow centuries later.

Life can be cruel.

Who Discovered Whom, Exactly?

But the bigger question is this: discovered by whom?

The Americas weren’t sitting around waiting for Europeans to show up and announce their existence. Indigenous peoples had lived across these lands for thousands of years, building societies and civilizations long before Columbus arrived.

Imagine someone walking into your house and announcing that they’ve discovered a new property. You might reasonably ask whether they’d checked the front door—or simply mistaken your living room for unclaimed real estate.

When Discovery Became Conquest

From the European perspective, Columbus’s voyages initiated sustained contact between Europe and the Americas. That was historically significant. It also opened the door to conquest, colonization, forced labor, and catastrophic losses for Indigenous populations.

Those things can all be true at once. We don’t have to pretend the voyages were insignificant. We also don’t have to call them a discovery as if nobody was home.

America: One Continent, One Country, or Both?

Here’s where the map gets interesting.

In the traditional geographical model commonly taught throughout the Spanish-speaking world, América is one continent, divided into regions that include North America, Central America, and South America.

In the United States, the common model treats North America and South America as two separate continents, collectively called the Americas.

Same planet. Different maps.

American Doesn’t Necessarily Mean the U.S.

And then English throws another little complication into the mix.

In English, American usually means someone from the United States. In Spanish, americano can refer to someone from the Americas more broadly, although it is also commonly used to mean someone from the United States. If you want to be more specific, estadounidense refers to a person from the United States.

So when an American says “America,” a Spanish speaker may hear something different. One word, two geographical traditions, and a country that has somehow managed to turn the name of an entire part of the world into its own everyday nickname.

So, What Does It Mean to Be American?

We’ve already explored this question in other articles: What does it mean to be American? And why do we say American when we mean someone from the United States?

Sounds like a vocabulary question, right? Not quite. Sometimes, the words we use tell us more about how we see the world than we realize.

The U.S. Is Not America!

The United States is a country in the Americas. It is not the whole of America—at least not in the geographical sense used throughout much of the Spanish-speaking world.

But language doesn’t always follow the map. In everyday English, America often means the United States, and American usually means a US citizen or resident. Fair enough. That’s how the language works. But it doesn’t mean everyone else has to see the map the same way.

Columbus Makes the Family Photo

And then there’s Trump, calling Columbus the original American hero.

A Genoese navigator who sailed for Spain and died centuries before the United States existed. Yet somehow, he’s made it into the family photo.

Apparently, even American history has become a family business. And the president is in charge of deciding who gets the surname.

But Columbus didn’t belong to America’s family album alone. And October 12 has never meant the same thing to everyone.

What the Heck is El Día de la Hispanidad?

Apparently, Columbus has been adopted into the American family, and the president has decided he deserves a place in the family photo. Never mind that Columbus sailed for Spain. Or that he died long before the United States existed.

But October 12 has been on the calendar for a long time, and the United States isn’t the only country trying to figure out what to do with it.

Across the Spanish-speaking world, the date goes by different names and carries different meanings. In Spain, it’s a national celebration. Elsewhere in the Americas, the mood can be considerably less festive.

Same date. Same historical voyage. Very different family reunions.

Let’s start with Spain.

¿Fiesta Nacional de España?

Now, don’t panic. Put down the flamethrower and hear me out. If you’re a fan of Spanish culture, this day might be your jam.

In Spain, October 12 is the Fiesta Nacional de España, and trust me, it’s a pretty big deal: military parades, flags, the King making an appearance, and a whole lot of Spanish pride on display.

But cross the Atlantic, and the mood can change rather dramatically. What Spain celebrates as a national holiday can mean something very different in the countries on the other side of the ocean.

Same date, different perspectives. And Mexico is a good place to start.

How is it in Mexico?

In Mexico, for instance, this day is known as Día de la Raza (Day of the Race), and, spoiler alert, it’s not exactly celebrated with confetti and mariachi bands.

It’s more about recognizing the blood, sweat, and tears that came from the collision of Spanish colonizers and Indigenous peoples. So yeah, it’s complicated. Some see Columbus and his arrival as the gateway to what we now know as Latin America. Others—like, many others—see it as the beginning of centuries of suffering and subjugation for Indigenous populations.

Wait… What Exactly Are We Celebrating?

¿ Snacks are good, so let’s keep going, right?

¿El Día de la Hispanidad? Huh? So… what exactly are we celebrating here? Let’s get real for a sec. It’s a tricky one. It’s like throwing a party for someone, only to realize halfway through that they’re kind of a jerk. But hey, the s

And that’s the thing about October 12: depending on whom you ask, it’s either a celebration of cultural heritage or a reminder of everything that went wrong when two worlds collided. Same party, very different reasons for showing up.

Columbus Didn’t Know Sh*t!

You see, Columbus didn’t even know where the hell he was. He thought he’d reached Asia, not stumbled across a whole new continent. And while he might have gotten lost, his landing in the Caribbean was a big deal for European colonization—just not in the way we often like to paint it.

Now, imagine barging into someone’s living room, declaring you’ve discovered a “new” place to call home, and acting like the people already sitting on the couch are just part of the furniture.

Excuse me, but it was already occupied. Ask los Incas in Peru.

And that’s the thing: Columbus didn’t need to know where he was for his voyages to change the world. History doesn’t always care whether you know what the hell you’re doing.

What about Peru?

While Spain goes all out with parades and military processions, Peru doesn’t exactly throw a party for Columbus. No grand fiesta for ol’ Chris, no fireworks in his honor. Apparently, he hasn’t quite made the same guest list.

And why would he? Peru has its own history with Spanish colonization, and it’s hard to separate the cultural ties to Spain from the conquest and everything that came with it. You can recognize the influence without throwing a birthday party for the guy who helped set the whole thing in motion.

So, no nationwide Columbus-mania here. But that doesn’t mean October 12 has no place in the conversation. It just raises a different question: what do you choose to commemorate—the cultural connections that followed, or the people and societies that were already here?

The Myth of Discovering “America” Is Still Alive

So, while the myth of Columbus discovering “America” is still alive in the U.S., other places are trying to tell a different story.

Some have replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day, shifting the spotlight toward the people and cultures that were already here long before ol’ Chris showed up. It’s not about changing the past. We can’t. But we can change how we tell the story, whose voices we listen to, and who gets remembered.

Now, it’s our turn not to get lost.

Love Hispanic Culture!

Back to Basics: Love Spanish Culture? Get Fluent!

Listen, we’ve spent enough time arguing about ol’ Chris. How about learning something useful instead? Like Spanish. Not just the language, but everything that comes with it: the culture, the food, the music, the salsa, the whole shebang.

If you’re celebrating Día de la Hispanidad, why not get to know the language, too?

Get Ready for Real Spanish!

At Kasa de Franko, we’ll get you ready for everything from chatting with locals in a Spanish plaza to impressing that Spanish-speaking crush. Real Spanish, no BS. Fun, practical, and designed to get you talking.

And yes, we’ve got specials. Because apparently, even Columbus can help you get a discount.

Check Out Our Specials!

At Kasa de Franko, for Columbus Day, we’re rolling out sweet deals to kickstart your journey into the language of Latin passion. You’ll be wowing your friends in no time—whether you’re chatting up locals, navigating Spanish nightlife, or simply ordering churros like a pro.

Ready to dive in? Check out Kasa de Franko’s courses, and let’s get you talking Spanish from day one!

Start your journey now and level up your Spanish fluency!

What is Kasa de Franko?

Kasa de Franko (or KDF, as we like to call it) is your ultimate language playground, nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley. We’re all about making language learning a fun, creative, and engaging experience—whether you’re flying solo, teaming up with friends, or still rocking that school backpack. There’s always an adventure waiting for you here, no matter what stage of your language journey you’re on.

Looking for Some Romance?

Interested in sweet-talking in Spanish? Dive into our cheeky blog section with posts like “Things Spanish People Say in Bed” or the playful “El Sexi Chupacabras.” Whether it’s a classic “Te quiero” or a more playful phrase, you’ll uncover a whole lot of romance just waiting to be expressed en español. Get ready for a lighthearted and love-filled language experience.

Need a Laugh?

Sure, phrases like “¡Feliz Año Nuevo!”, “¡Me Gusta la Chucha de tu Madre!”, or “Can I molestate you?” might tickle your funny bone, but remember—while language learning can have some laugh-out-loud moments, it’s also about appreciating cultural nuance and respect. So why not laugh, learn, and celebrate the colorful expressions that make Spanish such a dynamic language?

Love Legends and Folktales?

Feel like getting lost in some legendary stories? Take a deep dive into the rich tapestry of Hispanic folklore, with iconic tales like La Llorona, La Ciguapa, El Sexi Chupacabras, and a whole bunch of other mythical characters. There’s no better way to experience a culture than through its stories, and you can begin exploring them with us today. Ready to dive deeper? Why not start with a free Spanish lesson—just click that red button below!

Join Us for a Free Lesson!

Kasa de Franko, a well-known language school serving San Jose and the greater San Francisco Bay Area, is offering free online Spanish classes to celebrate Spanish Heritage Month. It’s the perfect chance to kick-start your Spanish adventure—what are you waiting for? The journey’s about to begin, and we’ll be with you every step of the way. Once you enroll in Kasa de Franko, always remember….