Global Spain has published a video online wishing a happy Thanksgiving to its "American friends" and explaining what it claims are the "Spanish origins" of the tradition.
The video, giving a rose-tinted version of the conquest and colonisation of the Americas, misspells the name of the holiday twice as "Thanskgiving" (0:13 and 1:07 below).
Global Spain is a body within the Spanish foreign ministry working "to defend and project the international reputation of Spain", especially in reaction to the Catalan independence movement.
Happy #Thanksgiving, to all our American friends.
— Global Spain (@GlobalSpain) November 28, 2019
Did you know that this celebration also has Spanish origins? The @HispanicCouncil and @FundConEspEEUUU tell us all about it in their new video. #WeAreHistory pic.twitter.com/NP0ag5olIi
The video has sparked criticism for its depiction of history. Native American attorney and activist, Brett Chapman, for example, wrote that it shows "a Spanish colonizer say[ing] "Thanks!" to a Native American leader likely as a taunt before murdering him".
Spain is so tragic always trying to relive the country's only glory days. Here, a Spanish colonizer says "Thanks!" to a Native American leader likely as a taunt before murdering him pic.twitter.com/E7gUvEtsqi
— Brett Chapman (@brettachapman) November 28, 2019
He's not the only internet user to have reacted negatively to the video.
"Do you feel that heat? It's the civilization my friend." pic.twitter.com/dXY0KUDEyn
— Lokholar (@M4K1N4) 28 de novembre de 2019
Oh my dear, on the one hand, they aren't even able to spell thanksgiving properly.
— Hot Sauce (@salsapicantona) 28 de novembre de 2019
On the other hand, they seem to be telling us that the settlers in Plymouth somehow got in touch with the Spaniards in Florida and decided to copy that idea.
What do spanish taxpayers think?
With your huge budget for Catalan bashing and Spanish flag waving you couldn't hire someone who knows how to SPELL the actual holiday you're taking credit for? https://t.co/rqGcYglf8H pic.twitter.com/y8KkAs2iK9
— Liz Castro (@lizcastro) 28 de novembre de 2019
A year ago, Spanish foreign minister Josep Borrell, set to take over as EU high representative for foreign affairs on 1st December, had already angered the Native American community when he said there are no problems with political integration in the USA because "the only thing they did was kill a couple of Indians".