Columbus Day "Cristoforo Colombo" naming after him many civilian and military ships, like the ocean liner SS "Cristoforo Colombo". Since 1987, Spain has celebrated the anniversary of Columbus's arrival in the Americas as its "Fiesta Nacional" or "National Day." Previously Spain had celebrated the day as "Día de la Hispanidad", emphasizing Spain's ties with "Hispanidad", the international Hispanic community. In 1981 a royal decree established the "Día de la Hispanidad" as a national holiday. However, in 1987 the name was changed to "Fiesta Nacional", and October 12 became one of two national celebrations, along with Constitution Dayon December 6. Spain's "national day"
Columbus Day as an official state holiday, though many mark it as a "Day of Observance" or "Recognition" and at least four do not recognize it at all. Most states that celebrate Columbus Day will close state services, while others operate as normal. San Francisco claims the nation's oldest continuously existing celebration with the Italian-American community's annual Columbus Day Parade, which was established by Nicola Larco in 1868, while New York City boasts the largest, with over 35,000 marchers and one million viewers. As in the mainland United States, Columbus Day is a legal holiday in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.