Columbus Day / Discoverer's Day

Americans have been celebrating Columbus Day since 1792. That year, New York City held the first Columbus Day celebration commemorating the 500th anniversary of Columbus landing in 1492. For decades and decades, American history books and school teaching told us Christopher Columbus discovered America. What those books and teachings did not give credit, to is the fact that Native Americans were already here. Native Americans truly discovered America. It also gave little mention, to the fact that Nordic explorers beginning with Leif Erikson had traveled down the eastern coast of Canada hundreds of years before Columbus arrived.

Today, we celebrate Columbus Day for what it accurately is. Columbus did discover the existence of the New World for Europeans who until then, believed the world was flat and ended somewhere in the Atlantic. Not believing the world was flat, his real goal was to find a way to the Orient. When Columbus landed in America, he did not reach the mainland. Rather, he landed on an island in The Bahamas the locals called Guanahani. Ultimately, Columbus made four trips across the Atlantic Ocean to the New World. However, he never set foot on the mainland.   Upon arrival, he renamed it San Nicolas. And, the focus of this day is now more on the discovery of the “New World”, and less on Columbus himself.

In recent years, Columbus has fallen out of favor with many people for several reasons. First, in 1492, Columbus did not land on the mainland of the American continent. Second, Leif Erikson and Native Americans preceded him. Also, Columbus and many other Europe discoverers were seen as cruel conquerors and looters. This has given rise to Indigenous People Day.

Did You Know? Anti-Columbus sentiment has grown in both North and South America. On Columbus Day, mock trials of Columbus are held in Peru.

Italian Americans are one exception to the rule. They still hold Italian Christopher Columbus in high esteem.