This year, Columbus day is on Monday, October 12, 2015. Columbus Day is a public holiday in the United States that commemorates the voyage of Christopher Columbus to the Americas in 1492. Federal observation of the holiday began in 1937 but Americans have been observing the anniversary of the voyage since colonial times.
Because of Columbus’s Italian heritage and Catholic faith, many Italian-American people observe the holiday by attending church services or parades on the holiday.
Columbus Day was originally held on 12 October every year to coincide with the anniversary of Columbus’s arrival. In 1971, the date of the holiday was changed to the second Monday in October.
History
This year, Columbus day is on Monday, October 12, 2015. Columbus Day is a public holiday in the United States that commemorates the voyage of Christopher Columbus to the Americas in 1492. Federal observation of the holiday began in 1937 but Americans have been observing the anniversary of the voyage since colonial times.
Columbus Day was originally held on 12 October every year to coincide with the anniversary of Columbus’s arrival. In 1971, the date of the holiday was changed to the second Monday in October.
Because of Columbus’s Italian heritage and Catholic faith, many Italian-American people observe the holiday by attending church services or parades on the holiday. In many schools, people celebrate Columbus Day while working on many fun activities such as crafts.
Local observance of Columbus Day
Actual observance varies in different parts of the United States, ranging from large-scale parades and events to complete non-observance. Most states celebrate Columbus Day as an official state holiday, though many mark it as a “Day of Observance” or “Recognition” and at least four do not recognize it at all. Most states (including states where it is not a legal holiday) close schools and other state services, while others operate as normal.
San Francisco claims the nation’s oldest continuously existing celebration with the Italian-American community’s annual Columbus Day Parade, which was established by Nicola Larco in 1868, while New York City boasts the largest.
As in the mainland U.S., Columbus Day is a legal holiday in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. In the United States Virgin Islands, the day is celebrated as both Columbus Day and “Puerto Rico Friendship Day”.
Virginia also celebrates two legal holidays on the day, Columbus Day and Yorktown Victory Day, which honors the final victory at the Siege of Yorktown in the Revolutionary War.
Hope all the Columbia College people will enjoy this historic Columbus Day!
