October's Controversial Holidays: Columbus Day and Leif Erikson Day

Columbus Day, celebrated the first Monday in October, has become one of the most controversial holidays.   A federal holiday since 1937, it commemorates Columbus’ famed “discovery” of the Americas on October 12, 1492.  This holiday has become increasingly insignificant; although government agencies like the post office are closed, most schools and businesses no longer take the day off.   

As it became clear that Columbus did not “discover” America (significant evidence now shows that Norse Vikings were actually the first Europeans to land in the Americas) some began to cry for the holiday to be changed or even abolished, citing the facts that Columbus had not really discovered anything and his landing catalyzed that downfall of prospering Native American civilizations.  Opponents argue that a man who used extreme violence against Native Americans (which he dubbed “Indians”),   enslaved indigenous peoples, forced “Indians” to adopt Christianity, and introduced new diseases that would decimate the Native American population does not deserve his own holiday.  They believe that the celebration of Columbus Day has sanctified that deeply flawed explorer.    It is important that although now Columbus Day is controversial, it was originally created, in part, to be a celebration of Italian Americans.  It was not intended as a way to glorify the explorer but as a method of celebrating our nation’s Italian immigrants and rich diversity.

Columbus Day Protestors in 1992

Columbus Day is often marked with parades and festivities, meant to celebrate Italian-American culture and heritage.  However, in recent years, these events have been marred by protestors.  These activists often picket at parades or dump red paint and fake blood on statues of the holiday’s namesake.  Not only are these protests often troublesome, they undermine parades and festivities meant to celebrate Italian culture and heritage, not Columbus.

Often the same week as the Columbus Day, comes the less controversial Leif Erikson Day on October 9.  Leif Erikson Day has been a national holiday since 1964, although no government agencies shut down for it.    Although it is little known, it has become a day to celebrate our country’s rich Norse heritage as well as a commemoration of Leif Erikson’s landing in Canada, the first European encounter in the Americas.  Perhaps it is the answer to those who seek a less controverisal alernative to Columbus Day.

In recent years, some states have adopted alternative, more “politically correct” celebrations on Columbus Day.  In fact, Alaska, Hawaii and South Dakota no longer recognize or observe Columbus Day.  Instead of Columbus Day, Hawaii celebrates “Discoverer’s Day,” which commemorates Polynesian discovery of the islands.  However the state does not treat it as a legal holiday, schools and federal agencies continue to function normally.  Similarly, South Dakota has renamed the holiday “Native American Day” and Alaska completely abstains from celebrating Columbus Day or any affiliated holiday. Even within states, cities and counties have taken it upon themselves to “improve” Columbus Day.  The California cities of Berkeley, Sebastopol and Santa Cruz now celebrate “Indigenous People’s Day.”

Columbus may or may not be “deserving” of his own holiday, but I find the numerous attempts to make the holiday more politically correct rather annoying.   Columbus Day does not have to sanctify the explorer unless we allow it to do so.  Instead of abolishing or renaming the day, students should be taught Columbus’ full story, not just the glorious sections.  For those who argue that Columbus did not discover anything and therefore is undeserving of his own holiday, I suggest celebrating Leif Erikson Day instead, or perhaps remembering that Columbus Day is not only a celebration of the explorer himself, but also an opportunity for Italian Americans to celebrate their own heritage.  Although I don’t think it’s fully necessary to have a federal holiday devoted to Columbus, the continued controversy over Columbus Day is uncalled for and ridiculous.  People are wasting their time trying to “improve” a holiday that few people truly care.