Category: October

The Mayan Calendar is a series of complex mathematical cycles of stunning precision and breathtaking cosmology.  This hieroglyph fragment was on a panel that flanked the main stairs of the Temple of the Sun in Palenque, Mexico, records a birth in mythical time that corresponds to the completion of the 13th k’atun in historical time,… Continue reading Mayan Temple of the Sun 2360 BC

The Feast of Italian Saint Francis of Assisi is celebrated throughout Latin America. The Italian saint is a particular favorite in Mexico and Puerto Rico, where he is said to assist with harvest rituals.  While the true biography of Saint Francis of Assisi is shrouded in legend, the essential story is that he was the son… Continue reading The Feast of Italian Saint Francis of Assisi

Southwest Airlines and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities announced the names of the students who earned the annual “Lanzate/Take Off” Education Travel Award on October 22, 2012.  More than 400 students from around the country completed online entries and essays for the competition, detailing how the travel award would help them achieve their… Continue reading “Lanzate/Take Off” Education Travel Award

To thunderous applause, the Festival Internacional Cervantino began its annual program of theater, music and culture in the beautiful city of Guanajuato, Mexico on October 13, 2012.   The Festival started in the mid-20th century, when short plays by Miguel de Cervantes called “entreméses” were performed in the city’s plazas.  (Cervantes is the famous Spanish writer… Continue reading Festival Internacional Cervantino

As 7000 people applauded, President Barack Obama dedicated the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument on October 8, 2012.  This is the first national monument to honor a contemporary Mexican American.  The Monument is located on a 187-acre site, known as Nuestra Senora Reina de la Paz (Our Lady Queen of Peace), which was a center of… Continue reading Opening of Cesar E. Chavez National Monument 2012

The University of Maryland University College (UMUC) announced that Javier Miyares was appointed as President of UMUC on October 1, 2012. Miyares was born in Cuba, and escaped to the US as a teen-ager.  Miyares joined UMUC in 2001 as vice president for institutional effectiveness. Previously, he served the USM office as assistant vice chancellor for… Continue reading Javier Miyares, President of UMUC 2012

Reflecting in a distant mirror the courageous civil rights activists who preceded them, five young Latinos wearing graduation caps and gowns staged a sit-in at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) offices in Los Angeles, California on October 12, 2011.  The five students were brought to the US by their families as children. The young… Continue reading Fighting for the DREAM 2011

To jubilant cheers and heartfelt tears, the horrific mine accident crisis in Copiapó, Chile came to a happy conclusion as the last of 33 miners resurfaced from deep in the earth. The 33 men were trapped for 69 days, over 2300 feet underground and about 3 miles from the entrance to the mine. As the world watched the dramatic rescue, mining… Continue reading 33 Chilean Miners Rescued 2010

Peruvian-Spanish writer, politician, and journalist Mario Pedro Vargas Llosa (1936-2025) was announced as the winner of the Nobel prize for literature on October 7, 2010.  Llosa is regarded as one of Latin America’s most inspiring and significant authors, with international reputation and regard.  Llosa began his acceptance speech in praise of literature and reading, “Once… Continue reading Mario Pedro Vargas Llosa awarded Nobel Prize 2010

On October 26, 2006 US President George W. Bush signed The Secure Fence Act of 2006 into law. Bush stated “This bill will help protect the American people. This bill will make our borders more secure. It is an important step toward immigration reform.”  The focus of the bill was to authorize construction of 700… Continue reading The Secure Fence Act of 2006

The TV film, “For Love or Country”, premiered on October 18, 2000.  Real-life musician Arturo Sandoval was the hero of the film, with his role played by handsome actor Andy Garcia.  Sandoval was born in Cuba, and was a huge fan of North American jazz musicians, particularly Dizzy Gillespie. Sandoval formed his own band and… Continue reading “For Love or Country” premiers 2000

The Nobel Academy in Sweden announced that Mexican writer, poet, diplomat and humanist Octavio Paz won the Nobel Prize for Literature on October 11, 1990.  Paz was born in Mexico City, and followed in his family’s tradition of activist political journalism.  He also served his country as diplomat, but resigned in protest over the Mexican… Continue reading Octavio Paz, Nobel Prize Winner

The film, “The House of the Spirits”, based on the classic novel of the same name by Chilean writer Isabel Allende, premiered in Germany on October 17, 1993.  The film is the story of a complex Chilean family during the rise of the military dictatorship in Chile.  English actor Jeremy Irons stars as the family… Continue reading “The House of the Spirits” 1993

The Chilean political opposition to dictator and General Augusto Pinochet triumphed on October 5, 1988, as the center-left Concertación party defeated Pinochet in his re-election bid.  A general election was held in 1989.  Concertación and its Presidential candidates won each year onwards, until a conservative candidate was elected in 2010.  La oposición política chilena al… Continue reading Defeat of Chilean Dictator Pinochet 1988

On October 13, 1987, the Nobel Academy announced that Costa Rican President Oscar Arias won the Nobel Peace Prize. Arias worked tirelessly to reconcile the warring nations that neighbored his peaceful country. In his acceptance speech later that year in Sweden, Arias stated, “Peace is not a matter of prizes or trophies. It is not… Continue reading President Oscar Arias wins Nobel Peace Prize 1987

The passion and artistry of Spain graced the Mark Hellinger Theater in New York City, as “Flamenco Puro” (“Pure Flamenco”) opened on October 19, 1986 for a run of 40 performances. The creating artist, Pablo Pena, had a lifelong love for the unique dance form.  In an interview, Pena stated, “Flamenco at its purest … emerged… Continue reading “Flamenco Puro” premieres in New York 1986

In a speech before the United Nations General Assembly on October 2, 1984, Nicaraguan Presidential candidate Daniel Ortega charged that “intelligence information from various sources” indicated that the US was planning a two-stage invasion of Nicaragua.  The invasion would be timed to force the Sandinistas to cancel the national balloting scheduled for November 4, 1984.  … Continue reading Nicaraguan Presidential Candidate Daniel Ortega 1984

To the cheers of roaring fans, Latinx athlete Alberto Salazar was the first to race across the finish line of the 11th New York City Marathon on October 26, 1980.  Salazar won with a time of 2:09:41 (two hours, nine minutes and forty-one seconds).  This win was the first of three straight victories in the… Continue reading Alberto Salazar, Marathon Man 1980

On October 24, 1979, Edward Hidalgo was sworn in as the first Latino US Secretary of the Navy.  Hidalgo was born in Mexico City, Mexico, and immigrated as a young child with his family, an early “DREAMer”.  Hidalgo earned a BA at Holy Cross University and law degrees from Columbia and the University of Mexico. … Continue reading Edward Hidalgo, First Latino US Secretary of the Navy

Happy Birthday to Maria Joselina García Cobos, born October 31, 1978, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.  In 1997, the beautiful and talented García won the Miss Honduras beauty pageant, and competed for Miss Universe that year.  Although she did not win the crown, she placed second in the competition for “Best Native Costume”.  García Cobos earned a… Continue reading Maria Joselina García Cobos, Miss Honduras 1997

The island nation of Trinidad and Tobago became an independent republic on October 26, 1976.  The nation is comprised of two islands near the coast of Venezuela in the Caribbean; Trinidad is the larger island.  Christopher Columbus invaded the island in 1498, when the Taino nations resided there.  The islands remained under Spanish control until… Continue reading Republic of Trinidad and Tobago 1976

Happy Birthday to Major League Baseball player Plácido Enrique Polanco, born on October 10, 1975 in the Dominican Republic.  Polanco attended Miami-Dade Community College, where he starred on the team.  Polanco is regarded as “a consummate professional” and has won numerous awards for his sports performance.  In 2006, he led the Detroit Tigers to their… Continue reading Happy Birthday to Plácido Enrique Polanco, Star Athlete and Dad

On October 30, 1968, the Nobel Committee announced that its Prize for Physics was awarded to Luis Walter Alvarez, a native Californian whose grandfather had emigrated from Spain.  Alvarez earned his B Sc, M Sc, and Ph D from the University of Chicago.  According to the Committee, Alvarez achieved the Nobel Prize for his “decisive… Continue reading Luis Walter Alvarez, Noble Prize Winner 1968

After the election of Dr. Arnulfo Arias Madrid as President of Panama, the Panamanian National Guard staged a coup against Arias on October 11, 1968.  The coup was led by then Lieutenant Colonel Omar Torrijos, which was the starting point of Torrijos’ career as a politician.  Under the military’s control, Panama initiated land redistribution, encouraged self-sufficiency for… Continue reading Lieutenant Colonel Omar Torrijos in power in Panama 1969

Happy Birthday to Alberto Daire, former President and COO of Liberty Power, born in Miami, Florida on October 22, 1967. Daire’s parents were from Cuba; his grandfather emigrated from Lebanon. Daire earned a BS from the University of Miami in Florida and an MBA from the University of North Carolina. Daire co-founded Liberty Power in 2001. Liberty… Continue reading Alberto Daire, Entrepreneur

Happy birthday to Major League Baseball outfielder Ruben Sierra, born on October 6, 1965 in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico.  His life had a rough start; his father was killed in a car accident when Sierra was 4, and his mother worked as a janitor to support her family. He signed with the Texas Rangers when… Continue reading Happy Birthday to Ruben Sierra

With the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, the US Congress placed a limitation on the number of immigrants allowed in from the Western Hemisphere, for the first time in our history.  This Act abolished the national origins quota system that had ruled US immigration policy since the 1920s, replacing it with… Continue reading Passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965

Happy Birthday to musician, composer and conductor Sonia Marie de León de Vega, born on October 16, 1964, in San Antonio, Texas.  Vega was inspired at an early age while listening to her first symphony by the famous German composer, Ludwig Von Beethoven.  Her father, also a musician, bought her a piano for $50 when she was five… Continue reading Sonia Marie de León de Vega, Musician, Composer and Conductor

Day 13, the final day of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.  US Attorney General Robert Kennedy, the President’s brother, personally delivered the President’s letter to the Russian ambassador in Washington.  The formal agreement was to refrain from attacking or invading Cuba, and the US nuclear weapons in Turkey were quietly dismantled in the following months. … Continue reading Day 13, Final Day of 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis

October 27, Day 12 of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.  As the world continued to wait and worry, American planes and ships continued to fly into Cuban skies and seas.  On October 27, a US Air Force spy plane was shot down over Cuba, and the pilot was killed.  As then US Secretary of Defense,… Continue reading Day 12, 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis

Day 9 of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. The Russian leader during the Crisis was Nikita Khrushchev, and he responded directly to President Kennedy’s ultimatum to remove the Russian missiles in a letter of October 24, 1962.  Khrushchev had a much different perspective than Kennedy as to the rights of sovereign nations, including the rights… Continue reading Day 9, 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis

Day 8 of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.  The US and Russian governmental delegations argued over the crisis at the United Nations.  The blockade of Cuba had started, with US ships and planes encircling the island. President Fidel Castro of Cuba responded on television to Kennedy’s broadcast from the previous day. Many voices called for sanity,… Continue reading Day 8, 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis

Day 7 of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.  In a dramatic televised address to the nation, President John F. Kennedy spoke to the American people about the crisis.  Kennedy and his advisors had decided to blockade Cuba until the Russians removed the nuclear missiles that they had positioned in Cuba.   People feared for the worst,… Continue reading Day 7, 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis

Day 1 of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. The US CIA had invaded Cuba in 1961, in an attempt to overthrow the Cuban government.  The following year, the Russian government, which was an ally of the Cubans, decided to place nuclear missiles in Cuba to deter further US invasions.  The fact that the US had… Continue reading Day 1 of 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis

On October 6, 1961, US President John F. Kennedy advised Americans to build fallout shelters to protect them from nuclear radiation.   The Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization published a 32-page guide to building a cozy Do-It-Yourself family shelter that was really supposed to protect people from nuclear devastation. The Latinx Almanac coverage of the… Continue reading Cuban Missile Crisis: Fallout Shelters 1961

Happy Birthday to NASA astronaut and US Marine Corps officer Carlos Ismael Noriega, born on October 8, 1959, in  Lima, Peru.  Noriega earned a BS at the University of Southern California and two MS degrees from the Naval Postgraduate School.  During Noriega’s career at NASA, he accomplished two spaceflight missions, logging over 481 hours in… Continue reading Happy Birthday Carlos Ismael Noriega

On October 14, 1951, the governments of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua signed a treaty creating the Organization of Central American States (Organización de Estados Centroamericanos, ODECA).  The purpose of ODECA was to promote regional cooperation, integrity and unity in Central America.  ODECA evolved into the Central American Integration System (SITA), with the ratification… Continue reading Organization of Central American States, 1951

Happy Birthday to scientist and education activist Diana Garcia Prichard, born in San Francisco, California on October 27, 1949.  Prichard’s mother was an immigrant from Nicaragua and her father was a Texan of Mexican and Native American heritage. After raising her two children, Prichard returned to school, earning a BS in chemistry/ physics at California State University… Continue reading Diana Garcia Prichard, Scientist and Educator

Happy Birthday to sculptor, painter, and professor María Brito, born in Havana, Cuba, on October 10, 1947.  At age 13, Brito and her brother were smuggled out of Cuba to Miami as unaccompanied minors a US government sponsored program known as “Pedro Pan”.  Brito earned two arts degrees, in art education from the University of… Continue reading Happy Birthday to María Brito 1947

US Marine Corps veteran and Congressman Frank Tejeda was born in San Antonio, Texas on October 2, 1945. After serving in the Marines and being wounded in action in the Vietnam War, Tejeda returned to school to earn a BA from St. Mary’s University, law degrees from the University of California and Yale, and an… Continue reading Happy Birthday to Frank Tejeda

Happy birthday to Rodney Cline Carew, considered one of modern baseball’s greatest hitters.  The Major League Player also excelled as a first baseman, second baseman and coach. Carew was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991.  Carew’s mother was Panamanian, and he was born on a train traveling through the Panama Canal… Continue reading Happy Birthday to Rodney Cline Carew

Happy Birthday to attorney and human right advocate Vilma Martinez, born in San Antonio, Texas on October 17, 1943. Growing up as a Mexican American in Texas, Martinez was discouraged by her so-called educators from entering college.  Fortunately, Martinez ignored the prejudiced advice, graduated from the University of Texas and then earned a law degree… Continue reading Vilma Martinez, Attorney and Ambassador

Happy Birthday to “Chucho” Jesús Dionisio Valdés, the Grammy Award winning jazz pianist and composer, born in Quivicán, Cuba. Chucho’s early life reads like a Hollywood script: his parents were musicians who were well known at the famous Tropicana Club in roaring pre-revolutionary Havana. Chucho met the great American jazz musicians performing there, including Nat… Continue reading Happy Birthday to “Chucho” Jesús Dionisio Valdés

El Colegio de Mexico officially opened its doors on October 8, 1940 in Mexico City, Mexico.  ColMex, as the academic center is known, started as a refuge for Spanish scientists, thinkers, humanists and writers during Spain’s Civil War.  It has evolved to become one of the most outstanding centers of research and teaching in the Latino… Continue reading El Colegio de Mexico Opening 1940

The Hispanic Room at the US Library of Congress in Washington, DC opened on October 12, 1939.  The Room was named for the Hispanic Society of New York.  It is the focal point for the extensive resources of Luso-Hispanic materials throughout the Library of Congress.  The Room is open to the public, so please stop… Continue reading The US Library of Congress Hispanic Room 1939

While the Bush family can boast of two US Presidents, the Batlle family of Uruguay holds a record for winning Presidential elections, with four presidents over the Uruguayan nation’s history.  The latest to win this honor is Jorge Luis Batlle Ibáñez, born on October 25, 1927 in Montevideo, Uruguay.  Batlle faced a number of difficulties,… Continue reading Batlle Family, Uruguay

The fabulous and famous Latina singer, Celia Cruz (1924-2003), began to light the world on October 21, 1924, with her birth in Havana, Cuba.  Cruz started her career singing in cabarets in Havana, and got her big break in 1950 as the lead singer for La Sonora Matancera. The group went on tour in 1959, the… Continue reading “¡Azúcar!” (“Sugar!”) from Celia Cruz

October 5, 1924 was the birthdate of internationally renowned Chilean writer José Donoso Yáñez, born in Santiago, Chile. Donoso attended an English language day school as a youngster in Chile.  A rebellious youth, he wrote that he hated his school work and compulsory sports, while his wanderlust inspired travels in South America, the US and… Continue reading Happy Birthday to José Donoso Yáñez

Grammy nominated jazz musician, composer, and band leader Arturo “Chico” O’Farrill was born on October 28, 1921 in Havana, Cuba.  His mother was Cuban and his father was Irish. O’Farrill was one of the early influencers of American bebop and swing, as he introduced Latin rhythm to the jazz scene of the late 1940s through… Continue reading Arturo “Chico” O’Farrill, Jazz Musician

Nobel Prize winner Baruj Benacerraf was born in Caracas, Venezuela on October 29, 1920.  Benacerraf’s family were Sephardic South Americans (Latino and Jewish, a spiritual precursor of the Miami Jewbans).  His father was born in Spanish Morocco and his mother in Algeria.  Benacerraf graduated from Columbia University with a BA, and then attempted to enter… Continue reading Baruj Benacerraf, Noble Prize Winner

A star was born!  Among the Latinas that you may not know was Latina is Margarita Carmen Cansino, who achieved worldwide fame as Hollywood’s glamorous Rita Hayworth.  Her father was an immigrant from Spain, where her Spanish grandfather was a renowned bolero dancer.  Hayworth appeared in 61 movies over her 37 year career, and earned… Continue reading Rita Hayworth | Margarita Carmen Cansino

The beautiful city of Las Cruces, New Mexico, was incorporated as a US city on October 9, 1907.  The area was originally settled by the Manso Native American nation until the Spanish invaded in 1598.  The territory remained as part of the Spanish empire until 1821, when the Mexican government acquired the land.  After the… Continue reading Las Cruces, New Mexico Becomes a US City 1907

As the Spanish American war was ending in the summer of 1898, US troops launched an invasion of Puerto Rico, one of Spain’s remaining two principal islands in the Caribbean.  The Puerto Ricans decided not to offer a strong resistance, and the island was captured with only a few casualties.  After an armistice was signed… Continue reading US Invades Puerto Rico 1898

The inspired life of writer, journalist, and politician Martin Luis Guzman began in Chihuahua, Mexico, on October 6, 1887.  Guzman’s literary works centered on the Mexican Revolution of 1910, which he supported and advanced.  His most famous novel, “El Aguila y la Serpient” (“The Eagle and the Serpent”) is a classic memoir of his experience… Continue reading Happy Birthday to Martin Luis Guzman 1887

The beautiful lady holding high her torch of light over the New York City Harbor was formally dedicated by US President Grover Cleveland on October 28, 1886.  The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the people of France, who had been so influential in assisting the struggling US during the American Revolutionary War almost… Continue reading “I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” 1886

It was a day of jubilation, a day of tears of joy, after centuries of unspeakable horrors – on October 7, 1886, Spain abolished slavery in Cuba.  Since the 1500s, Havana had been one of the centers of the slave trade of the Spanish empire in the Americas.  During the 1700s, this slave trade was… Continue reading Cubans Abolish Slavery 1886

On October 25, 1881, one of the most well-known artists of the 20th century began his exuberant life in Malaga, Spain.  Reportedly, Pablo Picasso’s first word as a child was reportedly “lápiz”–Spanish for “pencil”.  He began drawing as a toddler, and continued to draw until his death.  Picasso’s paintings became icons of his times and… Continue reading Picasso, The Artist

Teresa Urrea, the gifted mystic, healer, and psychic of Mexican and Yaqui heritage, was born on October 15, 1873 in Rancho Santana, in northern central Mexico. After a traumatic illness, Teresa began to lapse into trances and believed that the Catholic Virgin Mary wished for her to cure people.  Reports of her cures were astonishing… Continue reading Teresa Urrea, Mystic and Healer 1873

Cuba’s Ten Year War for independence from Spain began on the plantation of Carlos Céspedes in 1868. This event is celebrated annually on October 10 as the “Grito de Yara” (“Cry of Yara”).  Céspedes declared Cuba’s independence and proclaimed freedom for Cuba’s slaves.  The Cuban Liberation Army, as it became known, fought a guerilla style… Continue reading Cuba’s Fight for Freedom 1868

The state of Nevada was admitted to the Union on October 31, 1864.  The state was named for the Sierra Nevada mountain range; nevada translates to”snow-covered” in Spanish.  The native nations initially inhabited the area.  Francisco Garces, a Spanish missionary who had been part of the Juan Bautista de Anza expedition, traveled there in 1776;… Continue reading “Snow-covered” Nevada Statehood 1864

These immigrants were reviled as aliens who didn’t belong in America, strangers who would undermine the American way of life – they were (take a guess) — Irish and German! (Of course, that’s just what you were thinking, correcto?)  Violence against these aliens escalated in the mid-19th century, led by the “Know Nothing” anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic party. … Continue reading Anti-Immigrant Violence 1854

The prolific archivist and media mogul of South American history, Jose Toribio Medina, was born on October 21, 1852, in Santiago, Chile.  At the age of 22, he began his life’s commitment to catalog the manuscripts and histories of his native Chile.  He included challenging and controversial topics, such as the record of the Inquisition… Continue reading Jose Toribio Medina, Media Mogul 1852

Some people just can’t wait for the action to start.  On October 19, 1842, US naval officer T.A.C. Jones invaded and occupied Monterrey, California. California was then part of the Mexican nation, after its settlement by the Spanish in 1770.  The undocumented Jones and his undocumented squadron thought that war had started, and decided to make… Continue reading Invading California 1842

The first (and to date only) Latinx Governor of California was born on October 31, 1831. Romualdo Pacheco was born in Santa Barbara, California; his father was a native of Guanajuato, Mexico, who died when Pacheco was an infant.  His Scottish stepfather sent him to be educated in Honolulu, Hawaii, and he later returned to… Continue reading Romualdo Pacheco, First Latino Governor of California

The Federal Constitution of Mexico was ratified on October 4, 1824, after the overthrow of Mexican Emperor Augustin I, a former general who had decided to crown himself. The representative federal republic was christened the United Mexican States.  The constitution promulgated three branches of power:  Legislative, Executive and Judicial.  The Legislative branch was represented by… Continue reading The Federal Constitution of Mexico 1824

José Manuel Gallegos had several careers in his life, first as priest and later as politician.  Gallegos was born on October 30, 1815 in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico.  Gallegos attended parochial schools and studied theology at a Jesuit college in Durango, Mexico.  Back in New Mexico, Gallegos became friends with David Merriwether, a Democrat… Continue reading José Manuel Gallegos, Priest and Politician 1815

Juan Nepomuceno Seguín, born on October 29, 1806, is regarded as a hero in Texas for his service in the war to gain independence from Mexico.  (Yes, you read this correctly: a Latinx hero in the Republic of Texas’ War of Independence.)  As the Texas independence movement began to unfold, many Anglos and Mexican Americans… Continue reading Juan Nepomuceno, War Hero of Seguín, Texan

It was the real estate deal of the century, brought to you by your US federal government. The US Senate approved the Louisiana Purchase on October 20, 1803. The western half of the Mississippi River basin was purchased for $15 million, about four cents per acre.  The size of the nation was doubled with the stroke… Continue reading The Louisiana Purchase 1803

Rafael Cordero was an educator and humanitarian who sparked public education in Puerto Rico. Cordero was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico on October 24, 1790. The entrepreneurial Cordero owned and managed a cigar shop. Cordero was the son of free African-Americans. At that time, young African Americans were not allowed to attend school. For… Continue reading Rafael Cordero, Educator and Humanitarian 1790

José Miguel Carrera Verdugo, one of the founders of the nation of Chile, was born on October 15, 1785, in Santiago, Chile.  A charismatic man from a wealthy family, Carrera was of Spanish Basque descent, as were several South American revolutionary leaders.  Carrera had fought with the Spanish Army in Europe, and joined the independence… Continue reading José Miguel Carrera Verdugo, founder of Chile

Today is the birth date of an unacknowledged hero of the 18th century American Revolutionary War, the Spanish soldier and secret agent, Francisco Saavedra de Sangronis.  Saavedra was born in Sevilla, Spain, on October 4, 1746, and fought in the military campaigns in Algiers.  He was sent to the Caribbean region by King Carlos III,… Continue reading Happy Birthday to Francisco Saavedra de Sangronis

The journey began at the Royal Presidio of San Ignacio de Tubac in southern Arizona on October 23, 1775, and the weary travelers finally arrived at the Royal Presidio of San Carlos de Monterey in California in June of the following year. The Expedition was a large party comprising Anza, 3 Franciscan priests and their servants,… Continue reading Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail 1775

High in the mountains that kiss the clouds, Spanish explorer Alonso de Mendoza founded the city of Nuestra Señora de La Paz (Our Lady of Peace) on October 20, 1548.  The streets and plazas of the carefully planned colonial city are witnesses to a turbulent history, including the siege of the city by the Aymara nation in 1781 and… Continue reading Our Lady of Peace 1548

Dia de la Raza (Day of the Race) is the annual celebration of Native American Heritage on October 12 (as opposed to Columbus Day).  In 1492, people of the Taíno nation in their homeland on the island of Guanahani discovered Christopher Columbus, hopelessly lost on his way to India after grossly underestimating the earth’s longitude. … Continue reading Dia de la Raza, formerly known as Columbus Day

In the beautiful tropical forests of Belize, Mayan scribes wrote of a fire ritual, which they described in 24 pictographs of their complex language.  The writers were of the late classical period, and the date referenced is 11 Ajaw 18 Mak, which corresponds to October 7, 790 in the Western Calendar.  This date occurred during… Continue reading Mayan Fire Ritual 790