by Jennie Hanba

Created on: October 10, 2009

Columbus Day, observed the second Monday in October, is a national holiday in the United States to honor Christopher Columbus, the Italian explorer credited with discovering the New World on October 12, 1492.

In 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared that October 12th would become Columbus Day, a federal holiday. In 1971, President Richard M. Nixon changed the observance day to the second Monday in October. Although Columbus Day has only been a national holiday for 72 years, it has been celebrated since our nation's early years.

In 1792, a group known as the Tammany Society of New York City (also known as the Columbian Order) organized a celebration to honor the 300th anniversary of Columbus's discovery. Also on this anniversary, a monument was dedicated to Columbus in Baltimore, Maryland. Another celebration occurred in New York City in 1866, and in 1869, Italian-Americans held a parade in San Francisco.

On the 400th anniversary, in 1892, President Benjamin Harrison encouraged Americans to honor and celebrate Columbus. This also marked the first time that the Pledge of Allegiance was recited publicly. On Columbus Avenue in New York City, a statue was erected and replicas of the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria were displayed in Chicago.

Colorado became the first state to officially observe Columbus Day in 1905, being lobbied for by Angelo Noce, a first generation Italian from Denver, with the help of Casimiro Barela, one of Colorado's first Latino senators. Over the next few decades, other states began celebrating Columbus Day as a public holiday. As a result of urging by The Knights of Columbus, the large Catholic fraternal organization whose namesake is in honor of Christopher Columbus, Columbus Day finally became a federal holiday.

Not all states observe Columbus Day. Alaska and Nevada do not officially celebrate the day, nor is it a public holiday in California. In Hawaii, it is celebrated as Discover's Day or Landing Day. South Dakota observes it as Native American's Day, and Berkley, California celebrates it as Indigenous People's Day.

Most state and federal agencies are closed on Columbus Day, as well as many banks and some schools. All public buildings are directed to fly the American flag. Many communities hold celebrations and parades (especially in Italian-American communities). New York City holds a parade that marches down Fifth Avenue and also has a mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Denver and Baltimore throw annual parades.

Works Cited

www.history.com/content/columbusday/holiday-history

www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/columbusday

www.united-states-flag.com/columbus-day

www.americanhistory.about.com/od/holidays/a/columbus -day

www.new-jersey-leisure-guide.com/columbus-day

www.italystl.com/ra/1587

www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_of_Columbus

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