The enormous willpower of a foreigner was just what the earth needed to show its real shape. This foreigner was Christopher Columbus, a sailor dedicated to the sugar trade who did the impossible: He convinced the Catholic King and Queen, the richest entrepreneurs of the era and a good number of unemployed sailors that our planet was indeed a huge ball, and that all he needed to prove it was a little help: their help, of course.

His great deed is celebrated in October with a commemoration of particular significance: Hispanic Heritage Month, or Hispanic Month, the biggest day of which is October 12th. This day marks the anniversary of Columbus’ travels – the day the world pays homage to this pioneering man who knew nothing about borders, and led the most amazing expedition of all times.

For many years, scholars the world over have dedicated serious effort to study and analyze this extraordinary encounter of two worlds. Those studies, however, have been mainly focused on the four travels Columbus made to unknown territories; very little is certain about the man himself. One of the most important pieces of information may remain a mystery forever: Where was Christopher Columbus born?

Those who say Columbus was born in Genoa (Genova, the Italian province) can’t produce definitive proof of his nationality. Those who claim he was a native of Mallorca (island and part of Spain) face conflicting theories that The Admiral of the Seas was from Portugal. An intriguing new theory claims Columbus had a birth defect in his mouth and that consequently, he may have had an odd accent. Conceivably, then, Columbus could have been perceived as a foreigner in any country.

While that particular condition could have been an obstacle to his enterprise (and also one of the reasons his origins are so difficult to trace), it in fact served to his advantage. Columbus capitalized on his odd accent to arouse the curiosity of Isabel, the Catholic Queen whose authorization was indispensable for his travels, and of Santagel, a rich entrepreneur who sponsored much of the expedition. While Columbus’ interest in new routes for his sugar trading may have been his principal motivation, his charismatic foreignism brought attention upon him and opened many doors. Ultimately, his talent and abilities were key to the success of his venture.

The celebrations on October 12th honor the incredible achievements of a stranger. Columbus’ astonishing travels on unknown routes opened the road for all of us, intrepid explorers of the 21st century that we are.  We also celebrate the Pinta, Niña and Santa Maria – the ships that took all of us to two very different worlds. Worlds we keep discovering day after day in a long journey full of new stories, new songs, exotic fruits and new ways to prepare the same familiar ingredients. Two worlds that are one within the other.

Let’s celebrate Columbus Day by preparing this wonderful dessert that calls for two of the ingredients of our worldly encounter: The Sugar brought by Columbus and the Coconut that grew freely on our coasts.

Happy Columbus Day. Happy Hispanic Heritage Month.