Today is Columbus Day — a U.S. holiday that has always been, to some extent, and even more so, today — a kind of controversial holiday. The day commemorates the landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. It was unofficially celebrated in a number of cities and states as early as the 18th century, but didn’t become a federal holiday until 1937.
Many people today think of the holiday as a way of honoring Columbus’ achievements and celebrating Italian-American Heritage.
Christopher Columbus was an Italian-born explorer who with backing from the Spanish monarchs Kind Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, set sail in August 1492, bound for Asia aboard the ships the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. He intended to chart a western sea route to China, India, and the fabled gold and spice islands of Asia. Instead, he landed in the Bahamas on October 12, 1492, became the first European to explore the Americas since the Vikings established colonies in Greenland and Newfoundland during the 10th century.
Later that October, Columbus sighted Cuba and believed it was mainland China. In December the expedition found Hispaniola, which he thought might be Japan and established Spain’s first colony in the Americas with 39 of his men.
In March, 1493, Columbus returned to Spain in triumph bearing gold, spices and “Indian” captives. He crossed the Atlantic several more times before his death in 1506.
The first Columbus Day celebration in the United States took place in 1792, when New York’s Columbian Order, better known as Tammany Hall, held an event to commemorate the historic landing’s 300th anniversary.
In 1892, President Benjamin Harrison issued a proclamation encouraging Americans to mark the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ voyage with patriotic festivities.
In 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed Columbus Day a national holiday, largely as a result of intense lobbying by the Knights of Columbus.
Columbus Day was originally observed every October 12, but was changed to the second Monday in October beginning in 1971.
Several U.S. cities and states have replaced Columbus Day with alternative days of remembrance. In some parts of the United States, Columbus Day has evolved into a celebration of Italian-American heritage. Local groups host parades and street fairs featuring colorful costumes, music and Italian food. In places that use the day to honor indigenous peoples, activities include pow-wows, traditional dance events and lessons about Native American culture.
So today is a federal holiday — whether you celebrate Columbus Day, Indigenous Peoples Day, or something else, it’s nice you have the freedom to make that choice…..
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