Columbus Day
Many countries in North America, South America, and Europe celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas, which occurred on October 12, 1492, as an official holiday. The event is celebrated as Columbus Day in the United States, Día de la
Raza in Latin America, Discovery Day in the Bahamas, Día de la Hispanidad, Fiesta Nacional in Spain, Día del Respeto a la Diversidad Cultural (Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity) in Argentina and Día de las Américas (Day of the Americas) in Uruguay. The holiday was unofficial since the late 18th century, and official in many areas since the 20th century. Columbus Day is celebrated on...
October 14th, 2013
October 13th, 2014
October 12th, 2015
October 10th, 2016
October 9th, 2017
October 8th, 2018
October 14th, 2019
October 12th, 2020
October 11th, 2021
Many Italian-Americans observe Columbus Day as a celebration of their heritage, the first occasion being in New York City on October 12th, 1866
In 1971, the holiday was changed to be on the second Monday in October, Which is the same day as Thanksgiving in Canada (set in 1959).
In the USA, Most states celebrate Columbus Day as an official state holiday, though many mark it as a "Day of Observance" or "Recognition" and three do not recognize it at all. Most states close schools and state offices.
The Largest annual celebration of Columbus Day occurs in New York City and is deeply celebrated as an Italian cultural holiday. The Oldest annual celebration of Columbus day is in San Francisco, including the annual Columbus Day Parade, which was established by Nicola Larco in 1868.
Virginia 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.
In the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, Columbus Day is a legal holiday.
In the United States Virgin Islands, the day is celebrated as both Columbus Day and "Puerto Rico Friendship Day."
Columbus Day has become a controversial subject due to the cruel treatment towards indigenous peoples during the European colonization of the American continents which followed Columbus's discovery. Some believe that the celebration of Columbus day masks the allegedly ongoing acts of genocide against Native Americans.
Día de la Raza
Día de la Raza, meaning "Day of the Race" or "Day of the (Hispanic) People", celebrates the day Columbus arrived in the Americas. It is celebrated in many countries in Latin America including in some Latin American communities in the United States and Canada.
In Argentina, Día de la Raza has been celebrated on October 12th since 1917
In Chile, Día de la Raza has been celebrated on October 12th since 1922
In Colombia, Día de la Raza has been celebrated on October 12th since 1921
In Mexico, Día de la Raza has been celebrated on October 12th since 1928.
Día de las Culturas
In Costa Rica the official holiday had changed from Día de la Raza to Día de las Culturas (Day of the cultures) in 1994 to recognize the mix of influences that formed the culture of Costa Rica on, celebrated on October 12th.
Día de la Resistencia Indígena
In Venezuela, Día de la Raza had been celebrated Between 1921 and 2002 under President Juan Vicente Gómez. In 2002, it was changed to the Día de la Resistencia Indígena (Day of Indigenous Resistance) under president Hugo Chávez, to commemorate the Indigenous peoples' resistance to European settlement, celebrated on October 12th.
Fiesta National / Dia del la hispanidad
In Spain, Día de la Raza was celebrated until 1957, when it was changed to the Día de la Hispanidad ("Hispanity Day") by royal decree as Día de la Hispanidad, emphasizing Spain's ties with the Hispanidad, the international Hispanic community. In 1987 the name was changed to Fiesta Nacional or "National Day" (October 12th) became one of the two national celebrations in Spain. The other is Constitution Day on December 6th.
