Wow ---- did you know that many countries in the New World and elsewhere celebrate Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas anniversary! The anniversary is October 12, 1492 and like the U.S. it is an official holiday! In the United States it is Columbus Day, in many countries in Latin America it is Dia de la Raza, in the Bahamas as Discovery Day, Spain - Dia de la Hispanidad, Fiesta Nacional, in Argentina as Dia del Respeto a la Diversidad Cultural (Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity) and in Uruguay as Dia de las Americas (Day of the Americas). The holidays have been celebrated unofficially since the late 18th century and then officially in various areas since the 20th century!
According to United State observance, Columbus Day first became an official state holiday in Colorado in 1906 and a federal holiday in 1937 ---- although people have celebrated Columbus' voyage since the colonial period! In 1971 the holiday has been fixed to the second Monday in October, the same day as Thanksgiving in neighboring Canada (this date was fixed to Thanksgiving in Canada in 1959).
So Happy Columbus Day to the United States and other countries and Happy Thanksgiving Canada!
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