It’s a Monday in October. Most people are just happy to have a day off work or a bank holiday to catch up on sleep. But every year, like clockwork, the same debate ignites on social media and across dinner tables. Why do we celebrate Columbus Day in the first place, and why has it become one of the most polarizing dates on the American calendar?
History is messy.
If you grew up in the 80s or 90s, you probably learned a catchy rhyme about 1492. You maybe drew pictures of three ships—the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. It felt like a simple tale of discovery. But if you talk to anyone under the age of 25 today, they might look at you like you’re praising a villain from a prestige TV drama. The shift in how we view Christopher Columbus isn't just about "cancel culture." It's actually a deep, layered story about how different groups of people—Italian immigrants, Catholic organizations, and Indigenous tribes—have fought to define what it means to be American.
The Surprising Reason It All Started
Most people think Columbus Day has been around since the beginning of the United States. It hasn't.
Actually, the first massive celebration didn't happen until 1792, and it wasn't even a national holiday then. It was basically a New York City party organized by the Tammany Society. They wanted to create a "hero" for the new republic that wasn't British. Since Columbus was an Italian sailing for Spain, he fit the bill of a "New World" figure who didn't owe anything to the King of England.
But the real reason it became a federal holiday is much more intense. It was born out of a horrific act of violence.
In 1891, eleven Italian Americans were lynched in New Orleans. It was one of the largest mass lynchings in U.S. history. At the time, Italian immigrants were treated as "others." They were often discriminated against, viewed as non-white, and faced brutal working conditions. To smooth over the diplomatic nightmare with Italy and to help Italian Americans feel like "real" citizens, President Benjamin Harrison proclaimed a one-time celebration of Columbus in 1892.
He wasn't just honoring a sailor. He was trying to stop a diplomatic war.
By the time 1934 rolled around, the Knights of Columbus—a Catholic fraternal organization—lobbied hard to make it a permanent fixture. They wanted a symbol that said, "Catholics belong here, too." President Franklin D. Roosevelt finally signed it into law.
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The Flip Side: Why the Celebration Stings
While Italian Americans were using the day to find a foothold in society, Indigenous communities saw a completely different side of the story. You can't "discover" a place where millions of people already live, have established governments, and own sophisticated agricultural systems.
When we ask why do we celebrate Columbus Day, we have to look at the journals. Columbus’s own writings are... well, they’re pretty grim.
He wasn't just an explorer; he was looking for gold and slaves. Historians like Howard Zinn, in A People’s History of the United States, famously pointed out that upon his arrival in the Bahamas, Columbus wrote about how the Arawak people were "well-built" and would make "fine servants." The subsequent colonization led to the Encomienda system, which was basically a brutal form of forced labor. Disease, warfare, and overwork wiped out massive percentages of the Taino population within decades.
For Indigenous people, celebrating Columbus feels like celebrating the beginning of a genocide.
The Rise of Indigenous Peoples' Day
Because of this dark history, the tide started turning in the late 20th century.
- 1977: A United Nations conference in Geneva first proposed the idea of replacing the holiday.
- 1992: Berkeley, California, became the first city to officially swap Columbus Day for Indigenous Peoples' Day.
- 2021: President Joe Biden issued the first-ever presidential proclamation for Indigenous Peoples' Day, though Columbus Day remains a federal holiday on the books.
It's a weird middle ground we live in now. Some states, like South Dakota, call it Native American Day. Hawaii calls it Discoverers’ Day (honoring Polynesian navigators). Alabama celebrates a mix of both. It’s a patchwork quilt of identity.
Is It Okay to Still Celebrate It?
This is where things get personal for a lot of people.
Honestly, for many Italian-American families, the day isn't about the 15th century at all. It’s about their grandfathers who worked in coal mines or their mothers who faced "No Italians Need Apply" signs. It’s a day for parades, cannoli, and pride in their heritage. For them, removing the holiday feels like an erasure of their struggle to be accepted as Americans.
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But you've also got to consider the perspective of a Native American child sitting in a classroom being told that the man who enslaved their ancestors is a "hero."
Both things can be true at the same time. You can acknowledge the importance of Italian-American contributions while also acknowledging that Columbus himself was a deeply flawed, often cruel figure whose arrival triggered a catastrophe for the people already here.
What Most People Get Wrong About the History
We often hear that "people back then just didn't know better." That's not entirely true. Even in his own time, Columbus was controversial.
The Spanish Crown actually sent a royal commissioner, Francisco de Bobadilla, to investigate Columbus’s governorship in Hispaniola. Bobadilla was so horrified by the reports of torture and brutality that he actually had Columbus arrested and sent back to Spain in chains. He was eventually stripped of his titles as governor.
So, even by 1500s standards, he was considered "a bit much."
Also, let’s talk about the "flat earth" myth. Basically every educated person in 1492 knew the earth was round. The Greeks had figured that out centuries prior. Columbus didn't set out to prove the world was a globe; he just drastically underestimated how big the globe was. He thought he could sail to Asia, not realizing there was a whole massive landmass in the way.
The Evolution of a Holiday
The reason why do we celebrate Columbus Day is changing in real-time. It’s shifting from a celebration of a specific man to a broader conversation about American identity.
Many cities are choosing to keep the holiday but change the focus. Instead of focusing on the Santa Maria, they focus on the resilience of Indigenous cultures that survived colonization. Others use the day to celebrate the Italian-American experience specifically, distancing it from the historical actions of Columbus himself.
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It’s about nuance.
If you look at the map of the U.S. today, it’s a total mess of different observations. Over 100 cities and 10 states have officially ditched the Columbus name. But in places like New York or Chicago, the parades are still massive.
How to Navigate the Day Moving Forward
So, what do you actually do with this information? Whether you're a teacher, a parent, or just someone curious about the world, here is how to approach the second Monday in October with a bit more depth.
1. Read the Primary Sources
Don't just take a textbook's word for it. Look up excerpts from Bartolomé de las Casas, a priest who was there and wrote about the devastation. Then, look up the 1892 proclamation by President Harrison to see the original "why" behind the holiday.
2. Support Local Indigenous Communities
If you have the day off, use a little bit of that time to learn about the people who lived on your land before you. Most of us live on "ceded" or stolen territory. Websites like Native-Land.ca can show you exactly which tribes were originally in your backyard.
3. Celebrate Italian Heritage (Without the Baggage)
If you want to honor Italian culture, you don't need Columbus. Celebrate the art of Da Vinci, the music of Ennio Morricone, or the incredible history of the millions of immigrants who helped build the infrastructure of America’s biggest cities.
4. Check Local Government Policies
If you're wondering if your trash will be picked up or if the mail is running, check your specific city’s website. Many places have rebranded the day, and services vary wildly from state to state.
5. Start a Conversation
Instead of arguing on Facebook, talk to people. Ask your Italian-American friends what the day means to them. Ask your Indigenous neighbors how they feel about the school curriculum. Understanding the "why" behind someone else’s perspective is usually more productive than just shouting about statues.
The reality of Columbus Day is that it’s a mirror. It reflects our country's complicated relationship with its past, its mistakes, and its diverse population. We celebrate it because we wanted a hero, we kept it because we wanted to belong, and we're changing it because we want to be more honest about the cost of "discovery."
Actionable Insights for the Upcoming Holiday
- Verify Your Schedule: Since it is a federal holiday, all post offices and most banks will be closed, regardless of whether your specific city calls it Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples' Day.
- Educational Resources: Check out the National Museum of the American Indian’s "Rethinking Columbus Day" online exhibits for a balanced historical perspective.
- Cultural Engagement: Look for local Italian-American festivals that focus on food, family, and community history rather than just the 1492 voyage.
- Support Native Businesses: Use the day to shop at Indigenous-owned businesses or donate to organizations like the Native American Rights Fund (NARF).