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10/12/2026

10/12/2026

SPAIN.....

HAPPY HISPANIC DAY TO ALL FRIENDS, ROTARIANS AND THE SPANISH NATION - 12th October.....

CREATE LASTING HOPE in the WORLD - GROW ROTARY as ROTARY CONNECTS the WORLD to OPEN ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES for SERVING to CHANGE LIVES of MILLIONS of POOR/ UNDERPRIVILEGED INDIVIDUALS & THOUSANDS of COMMUNITIES WORLD OVER in MORE THAN 200 COUNTRIES & TERRITORIES!

This holiday is always celebrated on October 12th. If October 12th is a Sunday, then some regions may move the holiday to Monday October 13th.

It is Spain’s National Holiday and is also known as Hispanic Day or Fiesta Nacional de España or Día de la Hispanidad (in Spanish).

History of Hispanic Day:-
This national holiday commemorates the exact date when Christopher Columbus first set foot in the Americas.

Columbus was attempting to find a western sea route to India. After leaving the Canary Islands, Columbus' ships had been sailing west for five weeks, when on the morning of October 12th 1492, land was spotted.

The sighting is recorded as having been made by a lookout, but Columbus insisted that he had seen a light from land a few hours earlier, therefore making sure that he was awarded a lifetime pension from the Spanish Royal family for being the first person to spot land.

They then made landfall at an island in the Bahamas, which he named San Salvador, though it is not sure which island in the Bahamas this actually was.

Columbus' voyages across the Atlantic Ocean initiated the European exploration and colonization of the Americas.

In 1892 Queen Maria Christina promulgated a Royal Decree declaring a national holiday on October 12th in commemoration of the Discovery of America. In 1913, the Ibero-American Union of Madrid named it Día de la Raza for “the union of all the Spanish-speaking regions.”

In 1935 it became Hispanic Heritage Day, although it did not have legal recognition until 1958 through a decree of the Presidency of the Government.

Officially, the National Holiday Day was established in 1987 with Law 18/1987. A Royal Decree of 1981 was the first document to establish the rules for celebrating October 12th in law.

Though the holiday marks the day Christopher Columbus arrived in the New World, in 1987 Spain removed any reference to Spanish colonialism from the name of the holiday.

Did you know?
-While the first voyage in 1492 was immensely significant, Columbus did not actually reach the American mainland until his third voyage in 1498.
-Spaniards spend more on food per capita than anyone else in Europe.
-The first modern novel, "Don Quixote" was written by the Spaniard Cervantes in 1605.
-During the New Year, Spaniards typically eat twelve grapes as the bell rings at midnight on December 31st. Some believe that this leads to a year of prosperity while others say that the tradition wards away witches and general evil.

E&OE

10/12/2026

EQUATORIAL GUINEA.....

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY TO ALL FRIENDS, ROTARIANS AND THE EQUATORIAL GUINEA NATION - 12th October.....

CREATE LASTING IMPACT in the WORLD - GROW ROTARY as ROTARY CONNECTS the WORLD to OPEN ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES for SERVING to CHANGE LIVES of MILLIONS of POOR/ UNDERPRIVILEGED INDIVIDUALS & THOUSANDS of COMMUNITIES WORLD OVER in MORE THAN 200 COUNTRIES & TERRITORIES!

Independence Day is a public holiday in Equatorial Guinea observed on 12th October.

This is the National Day of Equatorial Guinea and marks independence from Spain on 12 October 1968.

History of Independence Day of Equatorial Guinea:-
Equatorial Guinea is a country in West Africa. It is made up of a mainland territory called Rio Muni, and five islands including Bioko, where the capital Malabo is located.

The first European contact took place in 1471 with the arrival of the Portuguese navigator Fernão do Pó. The island he sighted was named after him, Fernando Poo (now called Bioko). This island and another called Annobon were colonized by Portugal shortly after.

In 1778, under the Treaty of El Pardo, Portugal ceded its control of the region to Spain in exchange for land in South America.

In 1900, it became a colony called Spanish Guinea. In 1959 the region was reorganized into two provinces of overseas Spain and in 1963, the two region were joined and given a degree of autonomy and named Equatorial Guinea.

These changes to the status did little to dampen the growing call for independence and in March 1968, under pressure from the United Nations, Spain announced that it would grant independence to Equatorial Guinea.

On 12 October 1968 Equatorial Guinea gained its independence with Francisco Macías Nguema becoming the president of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.

Did you know?
-Equatorial Guinea is the only independent nation in Africa where Spanish is an official language.
-Equatorial Guinea's name indicates its location near both the Gulf of Guinea and the Equator, although no part of the country’s territory lies on the equator.

E&OE

10/11/2026

International Day of the Girl Child - 11 October

The theme for the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child (observed annually on October 11) is "End child marriage and invest in girls' rights!".

Celebrated every year on 11 October, International Day of the Girl is a global moment to celebrate girls everywhere, amplifying their voices, actions and leadership. It belongs to everyone who cares about girls and their rights. On this day, we come together to recognize and advocate for the full spectrum of girls’ rights.

Key Details & Focus:-
• Core Call to Action: End child marriage, protect girls from harmful traditional practices, and actively invest in their health, education, social safety, and leadership opportunities.
• Global Statistics:
• 1 in 5 girls are married before the age of 18 globally (totaling around 650 million girls).
• Over 12 million girls are married annually, which equals about 1 girl every 3 seconds.
• 133 million girls remain out of school worldwide.

Official Statements:-
:• The United Nations International Day of the Girl Child Portal emphasizes that every girl deserves a childhood, the freedom to learn, and the power to define her own future.
• The UN Women Statement for the International Day of the Girl 2026 urges governments, civil society, communities, and the private sector to enforce protective laws, keep girls in school, expand essential services, and fund girl-led organizations.

Courtesy: United Nations

10/10/2026

WORLD MIGRATORY BIRD DAY 2026 is celebrated on May 9 and October 10 under the theme “Every Bird Counts – Your Observations Matter!”. It highlights how public participation benefits the environment and conservation.

World Migratory Bird Day 2026 is officially celebrated on two peak dates to match migration cycles: May 9, 2026 (spring) and October 10, 2026 (fall), as announced on the World Migratory Bird Day platform.

Key Details

• Theme: "Every Bird Counts – Your Observations Matter!"
• Focus: Highlighting the critical role of community science and citizen science in tracking bird migration patterns, monitoring populations, and shaping conservation policies.
• Milestone: Coincides with the 60th anniversary of the International Waterbird Census (IWC).
• Peak Dates:
• Spring Peak: May 9, 2026
• Fall Peak: October 10, 2026
• Coordinating Partners: The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA), Environment for the Americas (EFTA), and the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP).

10/10/2026

FIJI.....

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY TO ALL FRIENDS, ROTARIANS AND THE FIJIAN NATION - 10th October.....

CREATE LASTING IMPACT in the WORLD - GROW ROTARY as ROTARY CONNECTS the WORLD to OPEN ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES for SERVING to CHANGE LIVES of MILLIONS of POOR/ UNDERPRIVILEGED INDIVIDUALS & THOUSANDS of COMMUNITIES WORLD OVER in MORE THAN 200 COUNTRIES & TERRITORIES!

Fiji Day is the National Day of Fiji and is celebrated on 10 October. If 10 October falls on a weekend, the holiday may be moved to a weekday.

Fiji Day marks the anniversary of both Fiji's cession to the United Kingdom in 1874 and its attainment of independence in 1970.

History of Fiji Day:-
Fiji was first visited by Europeans by Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in 1643 while he was searching for the fabled Great Southern Continent.

The British took control of the islands as the Colony of Fiji on 10 October 1874. Fiji became an independent sovereign state on 10 October 1970 when its colonial status was removed.

The week leading up to Fiji Day is known as Fiji Week and consists of a series of religious and cultural events that celebrate Fiji's diversity.

Did you know?
-Fiji consists of 333 islands, of which only one third are populated

E&OE

10/10/2026

World Mental Health Day 2026 takes place on Saturday, October 10, 2026, as recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO):

Key Details for 2026

• Date: October 10, 2026
• Global Theme: “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change”
• Core Focus: Advocating for the meaningful participation of people with lived experience (PWLE) in shaping mental health policies, services, and deinstitutionalization efforts rather than keeping them excluded from care decisions.....

10/10/2026

CUBA.....

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY TO ALL FRIENDS, ROTARIANS AND THE CUBAN NATION - 10th October.....

CREATE LASTING IMPACT in the WORLD - GROW ROTARY as ROTARY CONNECTS the WORLD to OPEN ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES for SERVING to CHANGE LIVES of MILLIONS of POOR/ UNDERPRIVILEGED INDIVIDUALS & THOUSANDS of COMMUNITIES WORLD OVER in MORE THAN 200 COUNTRIES & TERRITORIES!

Independence Day is a public holiday in Cuba observed on 10th October.

Also known as the Anniversary of the beginning of the War of Independence, the "Dia de la Independencia" marks the start of Cuba's struggle for independence from Spain in 1868.

History of Cuban Independence Day:-
At the start of the nineteenth century, the Peninsular Wars in Europe resulted in Napoleon's brother Joseph becoming King of Spain. Feeling no loyalty to this new regime, this galvanized the independence movement in many Spanish colonies in South America and Central America.

Cuba remained loyal to Spain, but as the century progressed, so did the enthusiasm for independence and an increasing resentment against the Spanish administration that was felt to be corrupt and repressive.

On 10 October 1868, a wealthy sugar mill owner, Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, and his followers proclaimed independence. This became known as the Grito de Yara ("Cry of Yara") and marked the start of the Ten Year's War.

Though this first war of independence ended with surrender to the Spanish in May 1878, in the longer term it proved to a key event in Cuba's struggle for independence from Spain, which finally came in December 1898.

The events of October 1868 are also seen as leading directly to the abolition of slavery in Cuba in 1886.

E&OE