Columbus Day

Columbus-day

1892 DalandHouse ColumbusDay Salem Massachusetts byFrankCousins 2

Columbus Day in New York City 2009 (4015483924)

Monumento a Colón Paseo de la Reforma Ciudad de México

Buenos Aires - Monserrat - Plaza de Mayo en Día de la Raza

Columbus Day is a national holiday in many countries of the Americas and elsewhere which officially celebrates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492. The landing is celebrated as "Columbus Day" in the United States, as "Día de la Raza" in some countries in Latin America, as "Día de las Américas" in Belize and Uruguay, as "Día del Respeto a la Diversidad Cultural" in Argentina, and as "Día de la Hispanidad" and "Fiesta Nacional" in Spain, where it is also the religious festivity of la Virgen del Pilar.

History

Columbus Day commemorates the landing of Columbus in the New World. Although not the first European expedition to the Americas (with the Norse expeditions led by Leif Erikson being widely believed to have reached Canada around 1000 AD), Columbus's voyages are considered a turning point in world history, opening up the Americas for exploration and colonization by Europeans.

Observance

The manner of observing Columbus Day varies throughout the United States. Some states and municipalities celebrate it as an official public holiday, while others do not. The celebration is controversial because it marks the beginning of a period of colonization in the Americas that led to the suffering and deaths of many Indigenous peoples. Activists have proposed changing the holiday to Indigenous Peoples' Day or Native American Day, among other names, to promote a more accurate and respectful understanding of history.

Controversy

The celebration of Columbus Day has been opposed by various groups, particularly Native American groups, who argue that it glorifies the colonization and subsequent oppression of indigenous peoples in the Americas. This has led to calls for the holiday to be renamed or abolished in some areas.

Columbus Day in Popular Culture

Columbus Day is often depicted in popular culture, including literature, film, and television, sometimes with a critical perspective on the historical impact of Columbus's voyages.

See Also

• Indigenous Peoples' Day
• Leif Erikson Day
• History of the Americas
• European colonization of the Americas