Columbus Day, which is annually on the second Monday of October, remembers Christopher Columbus' arrival to the Americas on October 12, 1492. This holiday is controversial because the European settlement in the Americas led to the demise of the history and culture of the indigenous peoples.
The achievements of Christopher Columbus are remembered on Columbus Day. ©iStockphoto.com/Nikada
What do people do?
Officially, the people of the USA are invited to celebrate the anniversary of the discovery of their country with church services and other activities. In some towns and cities, special church services, parades and large events are held. Most celebrations are concentrated around the Italian-American community. The celebrations in New York and San Francisco are particularly noteworthy. In Hawaii Columbus Day is also known as Landing Day or Discoverer's Day.
Not all parts of the United States celebrate Columbus Day. It is not a public holiday in California, Nevada and Hawaii. Moreover, Native Americans’ Day is celebrated in South Dakota, while Indigenous People’s Day is celebrated in Berkeley, California.
Public life
Columbus day is a public holiday in many parts of the United states, but is not observed or is not a holiday in some states. Government offices and schools are generally closed, but businesses may be open. The flag of the United States is displayed on Government buildings.
Background
Christopher Columbus is often portrayed as the first European to sail to the Americas. He is sometimes portrayed as the discoverer of the New World. However, this is controversial on many counts. There is evidence that the first Europeans to sail across the Atlantic were Viking explorers from Scandinavia. In addition, the land was already populated by indigenous peoples, who had 'discovered' the Americas thousands of years before.
Columbus Day originated as a celebration of Italian-American heritage and was first held in San Francisco in 1869. The first state-wide celebration was held in Colorado in 1907. In 1937, Columbus Day become a holiday across the United States. Since 1971, it has been celebrated on the second Monday in October. The date on which Columbus arrived in the Americas is also celebrated as the Día de la Raza (Day of the Race) in Latin America and some Latino communities in the USA. However, it is a controversial holiday in some countries and has been re-named in others.
Columbus Day celebrations are controversial because the settlement of Europeans in the Americas led to the deaths of a very large proportion of the native people. It has been argued that this was a direct result of Columbus' actions. It is clear that the arrival of the European settlers led to the demise of a large proportion of the history and culture of the indigenous peoples of the Americas. It has also been argued that Columbus should not be honored for discovering the United States, as he only went as far as some islands in the Caribbean and never got as far as mainland America.
Note: timeanddate.com states the facts and issues associated with this observance but does not disclose its opinion on the matter.
Columbus Day Observances
Select another year-range:
Weekday Date Year Name Holiday type Where it is observed
Mon Oct 13 1980 Columbus Day National holiday All except HI, NV
Mon Oct 12 1981 Columbus Day National holiday All except HI, NV
Mon Oct 11 1982 Columbus Day National holiday All except HI, NV
Mon Oct 10 1983 Columbus Day National holiday All except HI, NV
Mon Oct 8 1984 Columbus Day National holiday All except HI, NV
Mon Oct 14 1985 Columbus Day National holiday All except HI, NV
Mon Oct 13 1986 Columbus Day National holiday All except HI, NV
Mon Oct 12 1987 Columbus Day National holiday All except HI, NV
Mon Oct 10 1988 Columbus Day National holiday All except HI, NV
Mon Oct 9 1989 Columbus Day National holiday All except HI, NV
Mon Oct 8 1990 Columbus Day National holiday All except HI, NV
Mon Oct 14 1991 Columbus Day National holiday All except HI, NV
Mon Oct 12 1992 Columbus Day National holiday All except HI, NV
Mon Oct 11 1993 Columbus Day National holiday All except HI, NV
Mon Oct 10 1994 Columbus Day National holiday All except HI, NV
Mon Oct 9 1995 Columbus Day National holiday All except HI, NV
Mon Oct 14 1996 Columbus Day National holiday All except HI, NV
Mon Oct 13 1997 Columbus Day National holiday All except HI, NV
Mon Oct 12 1998 Columbus Day National holiday All except HI, NV
Mon Oct 11 1999 Columbus Day National holiday All except HI, NV
Mon Oct 9 2000 Columbus Day National holiday All except HI, NV
Mon Oct 8 2001 Columbus Day National holiday All except HI, NV
Mon Oct 14 2002 Columbus Day National holiday All except HI, NV
Mon Oct 13 2003 Columbus Day National holiday All except HI, NV
Mon Oct 11 2004 Columbus Day National holiday All except HI, NV
Mon Oct 10 2005 Columbus Day National holiday All except HI, NV
Mon Oct 9 2006 Columbus Day National holiday All except HI, NV
Mon Oct 8 2007 Columbus Day National holiday All except HI, NV
Mon Oct 13 2008 Columbus Day National holiday All except HI, NV
Mon Oct 12 2009 Columbus Day National holiday All except CA, HI, NV
Mon Oct 11 2010 Columbus Day National holiday All except CA, HI, NV
Mon Oct 10 2011 Columbus Day National holiday All except CA, HI, NV
Mon Oct 8 2012 Columbus Day National holiday All except CA, HI, NV
Mon Oct 14 2013 Columbus Day National holiday All except CA, HI, NV
Mon Oct 13 2014 Columbus Day National holiday All except CA, HI, NV
Mon Oct 12 2015 Columbus Day National holiday All except CA, HI, NV
Related holiday
Indigenous People's Day ―Monday, October 10, 2011, Monday, October 10, 2011
Other holidays in October 2011 in United States
International Day of Older Persons ―Saturday, October 1, 2011
International Day of Non-Violence ―Sunday, October 2, 2011
World Habitat Day ―Monday, October 3, 2011
Child Health Day ―Monday, October 3, 2011
Feast of St Francis of Assisi ―Tuesday, October 4, 2011
World Teachers' Day ―Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Yom Kippur ―Saturday, October 8, 2011
World Post Day ―Sunday, October 9, 2011
Leif Erikson Day ―Sunday, October 9, 2011
Native Americans' Day ―Monday, October 10, 2011
Indigenous People's Day ―Monday, October 10, 2011
World Mental Health Day ―Monday, October 10, 2011
International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction ―Wednesday, October 12, 2011
World Sight Day ―Thursday, October 13, 2011
First day of Sukkot ―Thursday, October 13, 2011
White Cane Safety Day ―Saturday, October 15, 2011
International Day of Rural Women ―Saturday, October 15, 2011
World Food Day ―Sunday, October 16, 2011
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty ―Monday, October 17, 2011
Boss's Day ―Monday, October 17, 2011
Alaska Day ―Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Last day of Sukkot ―Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah ―Thursday, October 20, 2011
World Development Information Day ―Monday, October 24, 2011
United Nations Day ―Monday, October 24, 2011
World Day for Audiovisual Heritage ―Thursday, October 27, 2011
Nevada Day ―Friday, October 28, 2011
Halloween ―Monday, October 31, 2011
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