Columbus Day is observed annually on the second Monday in October, and commemorates the historical figure Christopher Columbus, the navigator from Genoa, Italy widely credited with “discovering” the Americas in his 1492 voyage across the Atlantic Ocean (his first of four between 1492 and 1504), which sparked European interest in the area. Check out our previous articles on Columbus Day for more information on the history of the holiday, and the wide controversy surrounding Columbus’ actions in the Americas.
The primary points of contention surrounding the holiday are that Christopher Columbus did not ever arrive on, let alone discover, mainland North America, instead landing on the nearby islands, and that while he was there he was responsible for mass enslavement, torture, and killing of their native people. As such, there has been a widespread push since 1977 to replace Columbus Day as a federal holiday with Indigenous People’s Day, which is already observed as a city and state holiday in many areas nationwide.
Supporters of this change argue that a holiday that celebrates the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Native Americans, as well as encourages solidarity and advocates for their rights, would serve the nation better than a holiday celebrating as a hero a man responsible for so much destruction to indigenous communities.
Columbus Day is a federal holiday, so you can expect schools and government buildings to be closed for the day, and no USPS mail to be delivered. Federal employees will have the day off work, and some businesses may choose to close for the day, but many other businesses will be operating under normal or limited hours.
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