Columbus Day is a federal holiday in the United States reminiscent of Italian explorer Christopher Columbus landing in America 12 October 1492. Since 1971 the second Monday of October has been observed every year. In 2025, Columbus Day will drop on Monday (October 13).
The holidays celebrate Columbus’s contributions to the exploration and age of discovery, as well as the Italian-American heritage. In the last decades, however, adherence has become controversial due to the historical consequences of European colonization to indigenous nations.
Background
First celebrations: The first formal celebration of Columbus landing occurred in 1792 in New York, organized by the Colombian Order (Society of St. Tammany).
National holiday: US President Franklin D. Roosevelt said Columbus Day on a public holiday in 1937.
Italian-American heritage: Columbus, a native of Italian Genoa, became a symbol of Italian-American pride, especially after the mass lynching of 11 Italian Americans in New Orleans in 1891.
Modern adherence: Columbus Day honors Columbus cruise, connection between old and new worlds and Italian-American contributions to American society.
The importance of a voyage
Columbus convinced King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella Spanish to sponsor his western cruise in finding trade trips to Asia. October 12, 1492 landed on the Bahamas (San Salvador). While he was not the first European to reach America, his journey caused extensive European surveys and the colonization of the New World.
Discussion about Columbus Day
While Columbus Day is celebrating a survey, critics claim to overlook the negative impact of European colonization on the indigenous population, including:
-Ogenecid and relocating the original nations
As a result, some cities and states decided to celebrate nations or next to Columbus Day. This adherence recognizes the cultures and contributions of indigenous Americans and recognizes the injustices that have suffered and after the European colonization.
The day of the indigenous population
He first celebrated at the end of the 80s, honoring the history and culture of indigenous Americans.
President Joe Biden officially recognized the day of the indigenous population in 2021.
Holidays can replace or coincide with Columbus Day depending on the state or local jurisdiction.
(Tagstotranslate) Columbus Day (T) Christopher Columbus (T) Italian-American Heritage (T) Aborigones
