Learn why you get a day off from work or school with this brief history of Columbus Day.
Columbus Day has the distinction of being a celebration of the first recorded discovery of the Western Hemisphere by Europeans. The first celebration took place on October 12, 1792, in New York City. The event celebrated the 300th anniversary of the landing of Columbus in the New World. In 1892, United States president Benjamin Harrison encouraged citizens across the nation to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus' voyage. It was during this celebration that the Pledge of Allegiance was recited in public for the first time.
Colorado has the distinction as being the first state to observe the holiday in 1905. And the city of Denver still holds a parade, which has been protested by American Indian groups for years. It is the longest running parade in the United States. President Roosevelt proclaimed October 12 as Columbus Day in 1937 and, in 1971, President Nixon changed it to the second Monday of October and declared it a national holiday.
Hawaii does not officially honor Columbus Day, but instead observes Discoverer Day, which is on the same date. Also, James Cook is honored, rather than Columbus in Hawaii. Nevada does not observe Columbus Day at all, or anything in place of it. Schools and businesses are open as if it were any other day. In South Dakota, it is known as Native American Day and is celebrated as such.
Many groups oppose Columbus Day because of the impact the historic contact had on indigenous cultures. Besides the alleged cruelty that Columbus inflicted on Native Americans (including slavery and starvation), strains of diseases introduced from Europe severely affected the native populations. After Columbus' arrival in the New World, many natives perished from disease, exhaustion from being overworked or starvation.
 | October holidays include Columbus Day, sometimes called Indigenous People's Day, and Halloween, which gives adults and kids a chance to dress up. |
 | Oktoberfest, a 16-day festival held in Munich, Germany every October, features fun-loving Germans drinking hearty local beer, dancing and eating rich traditional Oktoberfest food. Whether the festivities are large or more intimate, the food for Oktoberfest remains the same, and this simple and hearty fare is easy to prepare. |
 | Any lover of beer and German culture should experience a traditional Oktoberfest in Germany. Although Oktoberfest celebrations are held all over the world, these festivities have been modernized, and nothing beats experiencing the beer, brats and fun as they were meant to be. |
Every October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month gives breast cancer charities and medical groups a platform for awareness campaigns, fundraising opportunities and support groups; it also reminds women across the country of the value of early detection and the importance of breast exams. |
Impress your beer-drinking buddies with a little knowledge of the history of Oktoberfest. |
