Columbus Day is celebrated every year on the second Monday of October. It commemorates the day Christopher Columbus landed on the shores of the Bahamas.
Who was Christopher Columbus?
Columbus (1451-1506) was a navigator, coloniser and explorer.
Where was he born?
Genoa, Italy.
Why is the dude so famous?
He introduced 15th century Europe to the New World (the Americas). His four voyages paved the way for the Spanish conquistadors (conquerors) and slave traders.
So he discovered this New World?
Not really. Native or American Indians were already living there plus the Vikings had already sailed to North America 500 years earlier. Columbus continued to believe that he’d reached the tip of Asia and that by crossing over the land he’d get to India. He had no idea that the great big Pacific Ocean lay between the
two continents!
Who paid for his trip?
He convinced the Spanish King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to sponsor his crazy trip across the
Atlantic Ocean. He intended to find a new route to China and India – the lands known for their
spices and riches.
Which places did he go to?
His ships first landed in the Bahamas. He also went to other Caribbean islands, including Cuba, Hispaniola, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica.
Why does he have a day dedicated to him?
American countries like USA, Bahamas, Uruguay, Costa Rica as well as Spain feel that Columbus should be
commended for his “discovery.” The day was officially celebrated for the first time in New York in 1792, 300
years after the succes
Columbus Day is celebrated as a federal holiday in the USA. It is considered a day of great pride for Italian Americans. Ironically though, Columbus never really set foot on what is today considered American soil. The indigenous tribes of the area, the American Indians (Columbus thought he was in India remember),vehemently protest the existence of the holiday. Every year there are protest marches held against the celebrations – not just in several parts of the USA, but also in Latin American countries like Guatemala and Chile.
Offence taken The natives of this region believe that celebrating Columbus’ arrival is deeply offensive. Not only did he take over the lands from their ancestors, but he is also said to have been quite a tyrant. They blame Columbus and the Europeans that followed his path to America for destroying entire tribes and cultures.
This is true in part. Columbus’ intentions are clear. He wasn’t out to make friends; he wanted to rule over the lands he came across. Also, he didn’t really expect to discover new lands, just a new route to the Orient – primarily to China and India – which was famous for its spices and riches. His main concern was money. Slave trade was common then and he made sure he took a number of the natives back as slaves. Native American holiday Instead of commemorating him with a federal holiday, the Native Americans are fighting
for a day dedicated to the indigenous tribes of the region.
Their protests aren’t limited to annual marches. Angry groups also appeal for support through the internet. There are online petitions, Facebook groups, websites and so on dedicated to the cause. Their anger may be justified, but think about it, if Columbus hadn’t come across the New World someone
else would have. He may not have realised that he’d discovered a whole new continent, but we’ve got to give it to the guy for having the guts to push the boundaries (quite literally!).
Cortsy : DNA
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