As I am learning about US's true history, not just what is sold to us in History textbooks, I am wondering what and why we have Columbus Day and if the general public even knows... What do you think?
2006-12-22 04:15:50 · 10 answers · asked by James Y 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Hey James,
Columbus Day comes from the older history belief that Columbus discoverd America. It was a good excuse for a holiday.
Columbus Day is a holiday celebrated in many countries in the Americas, commemorating the date of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World on October 12, 1492. Similar holidays, celebrated as Día de la Raza (Day of the Race) in many countries in Latin America, Día de las Culturas (Day of the Cultures) in Costa Rica, Discovery Day in the Bahamas, Hispanic Day in Spain, and the newly-renamed (as of 2002) Día de la Resistencia Indígena (Day of Indigenous Resistance) in Venezuela, commemorate the same event.
2006-12-22 04:23:54 · answer #1 · answered by BuyTheSeaProperty 7 · 4⤊ 3⤋
You asked why we have Columbus Day. First let me say that my answer does not have anything to do with any judgment regarding the impact of the colonization of the Americas, because I don't perceive that was your question.
The answer is simple - to celebrate Columbus' discovery of the Americas. Before people jump all over me, I understand that Columbus did not "discover" America, but his "discovery" had the greatest impact (for better or worse) from a European (and American) perspective.
The US has established many national holidays to celebrate important historical events and people. This is the reason for Columbus Day. President's Day used to be separate Washington's ("father of our country") and Lincoln's (freed the slaves, preserved the Union) birthdays, Martin Luther King Day, Veteran's Day (used to be called "Armistice Day" to celebrate the end of WW1 - still a big deal in Great Britain who lost so many in WW1), Memorial Day, July 4 etc.
Columbus Day is also celebrated by Italian Americans as a day of Italian Pride - (Columbus was Italian).
2006-12-23 05:18:08 · answer #2 · answered by amused_from_afar 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Columbus Day is meant to remind us of the discovery of America, although after congress created the holiday, there have been others credited with discovering America before 1492. Amerigo Vespucci and the Vikings, for instance.
Frankly, to me, "discover" means being the first human to have found it. So, the first human to have crossed the bering strait land bridge about 40,000 years ago is the real discoverer, unless someone can prove the Polynesians found it before then...and that might just be the case.
2006-12-22 04:27:07 · answer #3 · answered by Gary D 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
do no longer hardship, maximum peopel do no longer rejoice columbus day. they might understand what day is colombus day, yet no longer something of their on a regular basis existence alterations through fact of it. additionally, many persons are away via now that Columbus replaced into no longer a good guy...i understand in my intense college historic previous type, which replaced right into a required type, we reported Columbus and who he realy replaced into. So, if my college is customary, then i'm assuming that maximum different colleges additionally disguise the subject depend of Columbus.
2016-10-15 10:51:50 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In South America Columbus Day is celebrated as a day of Racial Integration. After Columbus' arrival to the continent, America became a melting pot of cultures and races: European, African and Native Americans have all contributed to our modern culture.
2006-12-22 04:32:02 · answer #5 · answered by Lumas 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Like most Americans he found something accidental and got credit for it. But most importantly Columbus day's significance is that it comes after a dry spell of holidays and people go crazy over it.
2006-12-22 05:04:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's the day Christopher Columbus discovered America.
2006-12-22 04:23:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Actually Bobeck is correct. It may not be a positive mark in history, I noticed someone dinged hm a negative, but lets face it.
Its TRUE. This is history. and still going on.......
If you want to learn what is not really printed in the history books, dwelve more into "Native" history...
2006-12-22 21:58:26 · answer #8 · answered by **twin** 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It marks the beginning of the systematic destruction of "Native American" Society in the western hemisphere
500 years of theft, rape and murder
2006-12-22 05:48:38 · answer #9 · answered by Bobuck 4 · 4⤊ 2⤋
he descovered america lolz
2006-12-22 04:41:55 · answer #10 · answered by MasonWilliams 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋