Many countries in the New World and elsewhere celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas, which occurred on October 12, 1492 in the Julian calendar and October 21, 1492 in the modern Gregorian calendar, as an official holiday.
The day is celebrated as columbus day in the United States, as in many countries in Latin America, as Dia de las Culturas (Day of the Cultures) in Costa Rica, as Discovery Day in The Bahamas, as Dia de la Hispanidad (Spanish Day) and National Day in Spain, as Dia de las Americas (Day of the Americas) in Uruguay and as Dia de la Resistencia Indigena (Day of Indigenous Resistance) in Venezuela. These holidays have been celebrated unofficially since the late 18th century, and officially in various countries since the early 20th century.
2014 Columbus Day
columbus day in 2014 is on monday, the 13th of October. In the united states, columbus day is always celebrated on the second Monday in October. Some Italian-Americans observe Columbus Day as a celebration of their heritage, the first occasion being in New York City on October 12, 1866 Columbus Day was first popularized as a holiday in the United States through the lobbying of Angelo Noce, a first generation Italian, in Denver. The first official non-centennial Columbus Day was decreed by Colorado governor Jesse F. McDonald in 1905 and made state law in 1907.
In April 1934, at the behest of the Knights of Columbus, Congress and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt set asideOctober 12 as Columbus Dayand a Federal holiday. Since 1971, the holiday has been commemorated in the U.S. on the second Monday in October, the same day as Thanksgiving in neighboring Canada.
Columbus Day date
In the United States, Columbus Day is always celebrated on the second Monday in October. In 2014 it will fall on 13th October.