Columbus Day 2023: Columbus Day is celebrated on the second Monday in October. It honors all Italian Americans, whose courage and character reflect and help define our nation. The White House states: “In commemoration of the historic voyage of Christopher Columbus 531 years ago, Congress, by joint resolution dated April 30, 1934, and amended in 1968 (36 USC 107), as amended, requested the President to declare the second Monday in October every year as “Columbus Day”. This year it falls on October 9.
When was Columbus Day declared a national holiday?
The Columbian Order of New York, often known as Tammany Hall, hosted a ceremony commemorating the 300th anniversary of the historic landing on October 12, 1792, which is considered the first Columbus Day celebration.
Columbus Day was first celebrated in New York on October 12, 1866, and today Italian Americans generally celebrate it as a celebration of their heritage, not Columbus. A first-generation American, Angelo Noce, successfully lobbied in Denver to declare the day an official holiday. Jesse F. McDonald, Governor of Colorado, declared the first state holiday in 1905. Later, in 1907, it became a statutory holiday.
Why is Columbus Day celebrated?
The United States celebrates Columbus Day for two main reasons. First and foremost, the day honors the journey and arrival of the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus in the “New World” on October 12, 1492. He was the first European to explore the Americas since the Vikings established colonies in Greenland and Newfoundland in the tenth century. An Italian explorer landed on a small island in the Bahamas, believing he had reached his destination in Asia.
The second is that in 1891, one of the largest mass lynchings in American history resulted in the deaths of 11 Italian Americans. President Benjamin Harrison established Columbus Day in 1892 as a result of this terrible incident. That first Columbus Day served as a means for many people across the nation to remember the lives lost and honor the optimism, opportunity and ingenuity that Italian Americans have brought to our nation since before the founding of our republic.
Is Columbus Day a national holiday?
Yes, according to the US Office of Personnel Management, Columbus Day is still one of 11 federal holidays. In some cities and states, it was informally celebrated as early as the 18th century, but it was not declared a federal holiday. Columbus Day has been observed on the second Monday in October since it became a federal holiday in 1971. Each year, the president issues a proclamation honoring Columbus’ achievements to mark the occasion.
Most corporations, banks, bond markets, the US Postal Service, other federal agencies, most state governments, many businesses, and school districts observe this federal holiday. Some companies, some stock exchanges and several states and municipalities do not celebrate the holiday.
The United States Navy was founded on October 13, 1775, and as Columbus’ achievements are traditionally honored on the same day, the Navy and Marine Corps usually mark both events with a 72- or 96-hour freedom period.
The actual level of commemoration varies across the country, from elaborate parades and activities to no event at all. Most states do not celebrate Columbus Day as a national holiday. Many people refer to it as “Day of Commemoration” or “Recognition”. While some states observe Columbus Day by keeping government offices open, most do not.
The anniversary of Columbus’ arrival has historically been celebrated as “Day of the Race” (“Da de la Raza”) in several Latin American countries as a way of honoring the diverse origins of Hispanic culture. In 2002, the event was renamed Da de la Resistencia Indgena (“Day of Indigenous Resistance”) in Venezuela in honor of indigenous peoples and their struggles.
Important days and dates in October 2023
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Source: newstars.edu.vn