World
Columbus Day: Why Americans Really Started Celebrating the Holiday
Columbus Day is a day of both celebration and contention for numerous American towns. The ongoing discussions on Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day frequently place them in opposition to one another.
The American origins of Columbus Day, a federal holiday instituted in 1937, indicate that the contemporary observance is less associated with Christopher Columbus and his expeditions to the Caribbean and more related to the persecution of Catholic Americans, particularly Italian immigrants who faced extensive discrimination and violence in the late 19th century.
Christopher Columbus never landed on the continental United States, and his expedition to the Western Hemisphere took place 284 years before to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
What is the rationale behind the inclusion of Christopher Columbus’ voyage in the narrative of American history by the United States government? The solution is rooted in the nation’s inception.
The Beginnings of Columbus Day
During the 15th and 16th centuries, continents were frequently represented as allegorical figures in cartography and European art. Occasionally, these depictions manifested as goddess-like women.
Following the Europeans’ discovery of other land masses, North America was designated the name “Columbia” by the late 17th century.
In the 18th century, both Europeans and Americans employed the picture of Columbia to symbolize the newly independent United States, which had recently achieved freedom from British rule.
Following the passage of the Constitution in 1787 and the demise of George Washington in 1799, early Americans commenced the documentation of their nascent nation’s history.
Desiring to dissociate from England, these Americans regarded Columbus as possessing numerous admirable traits: he originated from humble beginnings, he did not navigate under the English crown (but rather for Portugal and Spain), and his expertise and leadership acumen contributed to his achievements.
This abridged rendition of Columbus’s narrative catered to the requirements of America’s 18th-century political leaders, who were predominantly Protestant.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Columbia, initially a sign of our nation, ultimately became synonymous with the historical hero Columbus, so establishing a new national emblem comparable to the bald eagle and the United States flag. Thus, Columbus emerged as a foundational reference for the nascent nation’s documented history.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day originated from the aspiration of Native American communities to honor the history and culture of the indigenous populations of the Americas.
Columbus Day is not observed in states with minimal Italian American presence and bigger native populations, like Colorado, Alaska, South Dakota, and Vermont.
Hawai’i observes “Discoverer’s Day” by commemorating their Polynesian forefathers, rather than European explorers, who also traversed the seas.
Although Columbus Day is a federal holiday, individual states and municipalities have the authority to determine their own celebratory practices. The City of Pittsburgh observes both Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
In contrast to the 18th and 19th centuries, his standing as an American hero has undoubtedly evolved. Numerous Italian Americans today recognize that a holiday commemorating him does not honor the good contributions of Italian immigrants or the rich culture of Americans of Italian descent.
