History Of Columbus Day

Most adults who studied the history of Columbus Day in grade school can only remember the one-line rhyme: "In fourteen hundred and ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue." And many people often ask, "When is Columbus Day?" However, it would surprise most Americans to know that one of the least understood holidays in the United States is celebrated all over the world in some form. But the annual commemoration of the finding of the New World by Italian explorer Christopher Columbus is much more controversial than grade school history books reveal. In the United States, the holiday is observed on the second Monday in October with little fanfare. Retail merchants typically hold special sales, the Post Office and government agencies are closed, and banks observe the historical event as a Federal Reserve holiday. But unlike 4th of July or Christmas, the average citizen does little to celebrate the Spanish discovery of the uncharted New World.

The history of Columbus Day reveals that in 1492, Spanish monarchs commissioned the explorer to set sail for India to establish a new trade route. Three ships were to make the voyage: the Nina, the Pina and the Santa Maria. But instead of sailing to India, the expedition accidentally landed on an uncharted continent inhabited by indigenous peoples. It was not until the year 1507, after the explorer's death that the continent he believed to be India was actually called America by Martin Waldseemuller, a skilled cartographer. Waldseemuller named the Western hemisphere after Amerigo (Americus.L) Vespucci, a travel journalist whose work correctly identified the original location.

The New World in the late fifteenth century must have been rich with precious minerals, crude oil, crystal springs, and black peat suitable for farming. A land flowing with milk and honey, Pre-Colonial America's bountiful resources, vast plains, and lush forests captivated the Europeans. The indigenous people had undoubtedly developed fairly substantial settlements with large agricultural plots. Horses and other livestock would have been plentiful. Wild turkeys, chickens, wild boars, and pheasant would also have been in abundance. The desire to claim the new continent for Spain must have been overwhelming for members of the expedition. The Admiral of the Ocean Sea reportedly voiced intentions of becoming governor of the new American empire, conquering the natives who were called "Indians," and using them as servants.

According to the history of Columbus Day, the fifteenth century explorer initially decided to convert the Indians to Christianity. Records indicate that at least one Spanish priest traveled to the New World to make new converts. Historical accounts sadly reveal that the Italian Admiral may have failed at a fledgling religious crusade, but succeeded in perpetuating genocide, violence and enslavement against the indigenous people. The history of Columbus Day claims that European expeditions to the New World also brought diseases which devastated vast numbers of Native Americans, causing a near extinction of several tribes. Enslaved by European conquistadors, the Native Americans fell prey to starvation and degradation and were gradually displaced from their lands. The Bible warns us not to oppress others for self-gain. "Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! When the morning is light, they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand. And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage" (Micah 2:1-2). While most Americans hail the holiday as a laudable feat, taking pride in the late fifteenth century discovery and ultimate colonization of the Western hemisphere; many nationalities decry the celebration as offensive to the indigenous people who populated the continent, perhaps thousands of years prior to the European expedition.

The question, When is Columbus Day may not be the real issue, since many in the U.S. and abroad continue to observe the date, but prefer to rename the holiday. Some domestic and foreign governments choose to recognize the displaced Native American people, rather than honor the explorer who enslaved them. In tribute to the original American Indians, U.S. cities like Berkely, California and Denver, Colorado refer to the holiday as "Indigenous Peoples Day." South Dakotans commemorate "Native American Day." Some Latin Americans prefer to commemorate "Dia de la Raza," or "Day of the People." Since 2002, Venezuela has been explicit in calling the second Monday in October "Dia de lad Resistencia Indigena," or "Day of Indigenous Resistance." Many native Hawaiians also advocate focusing attention not on Columbus discovery, but in support of Native Americans as a show of ethnic pride and solidarity.

In 1990, a conference of more than 350 Native Americans from across the world convened in Quito, Ecuador to officially oppose the commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America. Two years later in Davis, California, over a hundred Native Americans proclaimed October 12, 1992 as the International Day of Solidarity with Indigenous People. The National Council of Churches later issued an appeal for all Christians worldwide to boycott participation in the 500th-year anniversary celebration in recognition of and respect for the cause of displaced Native Americans.

The next time someone asks, "When is Columbus Day," the history of the discovery of the New World may cause one to reflect on the plight of Native Americans and indigenous peoples all over the globe. While Americans enjoy so many freedoms afforded the country by God's grace and man's intellect, one cannot but hope that those freedoms are not taken for granted. The lessons learned from history need to be heeded. Rather than asking, "When is Columbus Day," one might well ask "What is Columbus Day?" To most, the second Monday in October is simply another opportunity to take off from work or catch a sale. To some, it evokes a sense of ethnic pride. But to so many others, Columbus Day represents a time of deep, dark oppression. Hopefully, a compassionate global community will prevent history from repeating itself.

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