Discover Exciting Columbus Day Activities!
Let’s cheer up for the day
The world to the new world, it is America
The day is celebrated to commemorate the discovery of the ‘New World by Christopher Columbus. The Italian navigator reached there in 1492. The day is usually celebrated on the second Monday of October each year and is considered one of the ten legal federal holidays. This year Columbus Day is observed on October 10 in US.
The day is now observed as Native Americans' Day or Indigenous Peoples' Day in many cities in addition to at the state level.
A brief about the Man Himself
“Columbus was a man of skills who had the investigating nature of today’s man of science”
If you want to commemorate this day, you can learn about Christopher Columbus's history and how he became so famous in modern culture.
Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer and navigator who headed four voyages across the Atlantic sponsored by the Spanish monarchs of Spain Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand II who agreed to sponsor his journey westwards. His hard work paid off and his voyages led to the subsequent discovery and exploration of the Americas.
Columbus was well-read in the subject matters of geography, history, and astronomy. His motivation to explore westwards was in the hope of finding an alternative sea route to the East Indies.
At this point, it is important to note, that Columbus never quite reached America till his third voyage in 1498 and that in his first voyage in 1492, he could only explore the islands of the Bahamas, one of which he named San Salvador.
It is because of Columbus’ explorations that opened the gates for the exploration and colonization of the Americas.
Whatever one's feelings about Columbus as a person, he is still an image worth remembering, and what better day to do so than Columbus Day.
A Brief History of the Columbus Day
“Columbus Day is not only about discovering America but it is about celebrating the energy in man to always look for something new.”
The first celebrations were held in 1792 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Columbus' exploration and discovery of America, but it was not designated as Columbus Day. It was 100 years later in 1892, when President Benjamin Harrison, led the initiative countrywide to celebrate the 400 years of Columbus’ arrival in the Bahamas.
On the 07th of April 1907, Colorado became the first state to declare Columbus Day as a state holiday, and it starts being celebrated annually from 1920 onwards.
However, the first observance of Columbus Day on a federation level was only under the guidance of Franklin D. Roosevelt.
His popularity and the celebrations keep on increasing and finally in 1971, it is declared a legal federal holiday all over the United States and as per a Presidential Proclamation (PL390-363), it was officially announced to hold the Columbus Day celebrations on the second Monday of October.
Many people have come to question the merits of celebrating Columbus Day as attitudes and perspectives in American life have changed over time. Columbus Day has become controversial for several reasons. Typically, the concept of discovery refers to first encountering a place or an idea. Columbus "discovered" a group of continents inhabited by millions of indigenous Americans for thousands of years. Rather than honouring these existing cultures, the Columbus Day holiday honours an explorer who brought them to light.
Columbus Day Celebrations
“Discoveries are the reason that today we find ourselves living in a big world, full of diversities and beauties”
Christopher Columbus, one of history's greatest mariners, a visionary genius, a national hero, and a mystic, is credited with discovering America in 1492 by connecting the Old and New Worlds. Columbus Day is a federal holiday in the United States that commemorates the date he first set foot in the Americas. Every year, Columbus Day, also known as Indigenous Peoples' Day, stirs up a storm of controversy, but many Americans continue to celebrate the anniversary of their country's discovery with the same zeal. The main event is the Columbus Day Parade, which is held every year. The United States commemoration of Columbus Day appears to be in a transitional stage. In response to the controversy surrounding Columbus Day, some states and cities have chosen different holidays.
- Indigenous Peoples' Day, is observed in parts of Alaska as well as Seattle, Minneapolis, and Berkeley instead of Columbus Day.
- South Dakota Governor George Mickelson promoted Native Americans' Day to strengthen ties between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples.
- Hawaii observes Discoverer's Day every year on the second Monday in October to honour the Polynesian explorers who first settled the Hawaiian Islands. Despite the fact that it is not a state holiday, many businesses and schools are closed that day. There has recently been some political movement in Hawaii in favour of celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day rather than Columbus or Discoverer's Day.
Start the exploration mood!
Let us explore some exciting Columbus Day party ideas to celebrate at home that will only liven up our spirits of 'discovering' America but will also positively celebrate our National Celebrations like Columbus Day is a great way to teach our young people about the history behind their origins and to help us stay connected to our roots. It is time to make festive decorations for your home to spread a sense of adventure and fun, as well as to uplift the mood on this special day.
Explore your creative side by creating a colourful DIY ship , placing it on top of your themed tabletop and making it sail. Give your little explorers the most enjoyable experience by serving their favourite cookies and candies beautifully tied with red ribbon. Your kids will have the most enjoyable experience taking advantage of these benefits while learning about Sir Christopher Columbus' epic journey thanks to this fun and festive setup. This Columbus Day, add festive flair to your surroundings to create an adventurous atmosphere throughout your home. By decorating your home and kitchen section in patriotic colours with red, blue and white. Decoratively beautify our Artificial Succulent Plants & Fake Plants to celebrate the founding of America.
An enormous American Flag display to proudly proclaim your love and passion for your country.
On Columbus Day, feast!
A Columbus Day party would be incomplete without a lovely family dinner and a festive feast to have a memorable holiday experience with friends and family members. Set up a festive table with all the colours of patriotism and make your loved ones feel like they're sailing in the blue ocean while eating.
Here are some favourite Italian dishes and recipes for the current season in honour of Columbus Day.
Red, White, and Blue Bruschetta
Ingredients:
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 cup tomatoes
- 1/2 cup feta cheese
- 1/4 cup toasted walnuts
- 2 cloves of garlic
- Balsamic vinegar
- Olive oil
- Sea salt and pepper
- 1 baguette
Directions:
- Chop the tomatoes into small pieces on a maple wood cutting board and combine them in a bowl with the blueberries, feta cheese, and minced garlic. Add a drizzle of vinegar and olive oil on top. Stir the mixture after adding the salt and pepper.
- Before serving, place a spoonful on top of the baguette slices.
Pizza with red, white, and blue toppings
Ingredients:
- 1 pizza crust
- half a cup of olive oil
- 3 teaspoons minced garlic
- pepper and sea salt
- 1 roasted red pepper cup
- 1 pound blue cheese
- 1 cup browned onions
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
Directions:
- Gently add brown onions in olive oil in a sauté pan. Olive oil should be used to coat the pizza crust before adding cooked onion, salt, and pepper. Add mozzarella cheese to the crust, then evenly distribute the toppings.
- Follow the baking directions on your pizza crust.
Spread the magic of Columbus' great voyage by watching popular Christopher Columbus movies with friends and family members to boost their patriotic spirits and enjoy the festivities to the fullest.
Happy Columbus Day from my shore to yours!
Take new challenges, keep pushing your boundaries and you can also become a Columbus with your hard work.