Celebrate Columbus Day with paella and sangria at Cafe Madrid

by Marisa Treviño of Latina Lista

Love him or hate him, Christopher Columbus lives on in the world’s collective history as the one who discovered the New World.

Though we in the United States have observed Columbus Day on the second Monday in October since 1971, the rest of the world observes it closer to his original arrival into the Americas on October 12.

Yet, the day is known under different names such as Día de la Raza among countries in Latin America, and Día de las Culturas in Costa Rica, or Discovery Day in the Bahamas, and Día de la Hispanidad in Spain.

Since 2002, Venezuela has decided to highlight the other side of the controversy recognizing Columbus and instead honors the native populations who suffered at the hands of Columbus and the Spanish conquistadores who came after him in their search for gold.

Venezuelans refer to Columbus Day as Día de la Resistencia Indigena or Day of Indigenous Resistance.

Whichever side you view it from, this year marks the 615th anniversary of Columbus’ infamous arrival.

To recap history, Columbus was trying to find a naval route to India to take advantage of the spice trade. Instead of finding India, he found the Caribbean islands, met the natives and christened them “Indians.” (If you want to know more, the History Channel has a mini-site devoted to Columbus and tonight will be airing Columbus: The Lost Voyage at 8 p.m.)

The rest is a sad commentary on what happened to the native tribes but it was the start of European influence on this part of the world.

To this day, Columbus remains a mystery with historians fighting over his true origins.

Yet, what is certain is that Columbus has strong ties with Spain.

Whether it was his birthplace, as some argue, or because Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand financed him, his 90 crew members and three ships: the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa Maria or because it is the country of his final resting place, Spain’s ties with the mariner explorer are unmistakable.

Locally, those Spanish ties to Columbus will be celebrated at Dallas’ Café Madrid’s Travis St. location. From 4 to 11:30 p.m., diners can celebrate Columbus’ arrival to the New World with Spain’s signature dish — paella.

Approximate cost of the meal per person is $14.92 (You know: 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue…) and guitarists will be on hand to serenade everyone.

Needless to say, the sangria will be flowing too — which always helps in putting history in perspective!