CELEBRATING COLUMBUS DAY!
I am not too old to remember back in my school days when we were taught that in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue. He landed on an island of the Bahamas, and as a matter of fact – I took my wife there a few years ago! Bahamas were just a stepping stone to the American United States. It is an important date in our country’s history!
Columbus Day is still a celebrated holiday in America and it is celebrated on the second Monday of each October. In 1937 it was officially declared a Federal Holiday due to the efforts of Italian-American communities who viewed Columbus as a symbol of their heritage. Italian Americans in New York City celebrated on October 12, 1866!
The governor of Colorado made it statutory in 1907 and as time went on, eventually President Johnson signed the official federal holiday into legislation in June 28, 1968 and it was to begin effectively in 1971! The holiday helps us to remember the contributions of the Italian-American immigrants and the Indigenous people as they became a part of the USA. Even our Navy and the Marine Corps observed the custom of the celebrations by granting a 72 or 96 hour “liberty” period for the military!
Celebrations included traditional foods, music, and storytelling in the streets. This was a great cultural celebration of the American people and the diversity within. San Francisco deems to be the nation’s oldest existing celebration, but word is New York City is the largest of the celebrators dating back to 2010. There were over 35,000 marchers and a million people watching and participating in the event!
No one is forced to celebrate Columbus Day and there are those states that do not celebrate. By the end of the 20th century the celebrations began to decline based upon what each state preferred. They also have different names attached to the celebration according to their location. For example – it was known as “Discoverers Day” in South Dakota or “Native American Day” in Delaware, Oregon, and Washington and was not an official holiday. Puerto Rico calls it “Friendship Day “.
Some states do not celebrate as an official holiday but their state governors are requested by statute to proclaim it each year. Iowa and Nevada do not celebrate as an official holiday. Some states have removed even the paid portion of the event.
In 1992 California began to celebrate “Indigenous Peoples Day” based upon what they believed could be moral or practical grounds. Therefore, many large cities have followed suit since 2018. Some cities had decided a compromise and their city council voted to rename it First People’s Day and in 2020 Columbus Day was renamed Italian-American Heritage and Culture Day.
However people decide to refer to the original “Columbus Day” events, it can serve as a record of how American and Italian and the Indigenous people all are a part of this country. We are a diverse nation with a diverse people and should consider one another respectfully. Let’s appreciate Columbus Day this year in a thankful way that will acknowledge the complexity of all societies worldwide!
