Honestly, if you grew up in the United States, you probably remember Columbus Day as that random Monday in October when the mail didn't come and you got to stay home from school. Maybe you made a paper hat shaped like a boat. But if you've looked at a calendar or a news feed lately, you’ve noticed things have changed. A lot. It's not just about "In fourteen hundred and ninety-two" anymore. People are genuinely divided.
So, Columbus Day: what is it exactly? At its most basic, it’s a federal holiday in the United States that officially commemorates Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492. It’s been a staple of the American calendar for decades, but the "what" and the "why" have become incredibly messy. It’s a mix of Italian-American pride, Catholic history, colonial trauma, and a massive shift in how we talk about who "discovered" what.
How It Actually Started (It Wasn’t Just About the Ships)
Most people think Columbus Day was always there, like Thanksgiving or Christmas. It wasn't. While the first recorded celebration happened in 1792—organized by the Society of St. Tammany in New York to mark the 300th anniversary—it didn't become a federal powerhouse until much later.
In the late 19th century, Italian immigrants were facing brutal discrimination in the U.S. We're talking about lynchings, "No Italians Need Apply" signs, and general xenophobia. In 1891, eleven Italian Americans were murdered by a mob in New Orleans. It was one of the largest mass lynchings in American history. To smooth things over and acknowledge the contribution of Italian citizens, President Benjamin Harrison proclaimed a one-time celebration in 1892.
He basically used Columbus—an Italian explorer sailing for Spain—as a bridge.
The Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization, pushed hard for it to become a permanent fixture. They wanted a hero who was both Catholic and "American" in spirit to prove they belonged. President Franklin D. Roosevelt finally made it a federal holiday in 1937. Since 1971, it’s been observed on the second Monday in October.
The Shift to Indigenous Peoples' Day
You can't talk about Columbus Day: what is it without talking about what it isn't for millions of people. For many Indigenous communities, celebrating Columbus is like celebrating the beginning of a genocide.
He didn't "discover" a New World; he landed in a place where millions of people already lived with complex governments, religions, and trade routes. His arrival kicked off centuries of forced labor, European diseases that wiped out 90% of the native population, and the transatlantic slave trade.
Because of this, the movement to rename or replace the holiday has gained massive steam. Berkeley, California, was the first to pull the trigger back in 1992, replacing it with Indigenous Peoples' Day. Now, dozens of states—including Alaska, Oregon, and Vermont—and hundreds of cities have followed suit. Even the White House started issuing proclamations for Indigenous Peoples' Day alongside Columbus Day starting in 2021.
What Really Happened in 1492?
Let's get into the weeds of the history because the textbook version is usually a bit sanitized.
Columbus was looking for a westward route to Asia. He wanted spices and gold. When he hit the Bahamas (specifically an island the Lucayan people called Guanahani), he was convinced he was in the East Indies. That’s why he called the people "Indians."
He wasn't exactly a "peace and love" kind of guy.
According to his own journals and the writings of contemporaries like Bartolomé de las Casas, Columbus’s administration of the Caribbean islands was notoriously brutal. Even the Spanish Crown eventually had him arrested and stripped of his governorship for "tyranny" and "incompetence." He used torture to govern and enslaved the Taino people to mine for gold.
Why the Italian-American Connection Persists
For many families of Italian descent, the holiday isn't about endorsing 15th-century colonialism. It’s about their own grandparents.
During the great waves of immigration from Italy in the early 20th century, Columbus was a symbol of legitimacy. Celebrating him was a way of saying, "We helped build this country from the very beginning."
In cities like New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia, the Columbus Day Parade is still a massive cultural event. It’s about cannoli, Frank Sinatra, and pride in a heritage that was once looked down upon. When statues are taken down or the holiday is renamed, these communities often feel like their specific history in America is being erased. It’s a deeply personal clash of two different historical traumas.
Common Misconceptions About the Day
Everyone gets the day off. Not even close. While it’s a federal holiday—meaning the post office is closed and banks are usually shut—only about 20-25% of private businesses give their employees the day off. Most people are still clocking in.
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Columbus was the first European here. Nope. Leif Erikson and the Vikings beat him by about 500 years. They even had a settlement in what is now Newfoundland, Canada, called L'Anse aux Meadows.
He proved the Earth was round. Everyone at the time who was educated already knew the Earth was a sphere. They just disagreed on how big it was. Columbus actually thought the Earth was smaller than it is, which is why he thought he could make it to Asia without starving. He was wrong; he just got "lucky" that a whole continent was in the middle of the ocean.
The Modern Landscape of the Holiday
In 2026, the map of the U.S. looks like a patchwork quilt when it comes to this holiday.
If you're in Florida or New Jersey, you might see massive Columbus Day celebrations. If you're in South Dakota, you're celebrating Native American Day. In Hawaii, it’s Discoverers' Day (honoring Polynesian navigators).
This isn't just a "liberal vs. conservative" thing, though it often gets framed that way. It's an evolution of American identity. We are moving away from a single, unified narrative toward a more complicated, multi-vocal history. It's uncomfortable. It’s loud. But it’s more accurate to the reality of how this country was formed.
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How to Navigate the Day Respectfully
If you're wondering how to handle the day, there isn't one "right" way that pleases everyone. However, being informed is the best starting point.
- Check your local calendar. Don't assume the bank is open or your kid has school.
- Read Indigenous history. Take twenty minutes to look up the history of the tribes that lived in your specific area before colonization.
- Support Italian culture. If you want to celebrate the Italian-American contribution, do it! Visit a local Italian-owned business or learn about the history of Italian immigration beyond just the explorer.
- Acknowledge the complexity. It is possible to honor the struggle of 19th-century immigrants while also acknowledging the suffering of 15th-century Indigenous people. Life is rarely all one thing.
The reality of Columbus Day: what is it is that it's a holiday in transition. It started as a way to include a marginalized group of immigrants and is now shifting to include an even more marginalized group of original inhabitants.
Actionable Steps for Moving Forward
Instead of just letting the day pass by as another "Monday off," use the friction of the holiday to broaden your own perspective.
Start by visiting the National Museum of the American Indian online to see their "Rethinking Columbus" resources. They provide primary sources that go way beyond what you learned in third grade.
If you are a business owner or a manager, consider how you label the holiday in your company calendar. Many organizations are now listing it as "Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day" to reflect the diverse perspectives of their employees.
Finally, if you're an educator or a parent, look for books like Encounter by Jane Yolen or Rethinking Columbus: The Next 500 Years. These offer a more balanced view that encourages critical thinking rather than just memorizing dates. Understanding the full scope of history doesn't diminish our identity; it makes us more informed citizens.