October 12th: Columbus Day

While Spain celebrates Hispanity Day, many American countries celebrate the day Columbus discovered the Americas in 1492. In some countries, it is called the Day of the Americas or the Day of the Race to remember when Europeans first encountered Native Americans. In the United States, the day is known as Columbus Day. On this national holiday, all banks and federal offices are closed but this holiday is not observed in every state. In some communities, especially Italian-American ones, there are Columbus Day parades[1]. This is also a day of protest, when Native Americans mourn[2] European colonization and the destruction of their cultures. As an alternative, South Dakota officially celebrates Native American Day, and Hawaii celebrates Discovery Day, to honor when the Polynesians discovered the island. They use the day to fight for indigenous rights. Not only can you find protests by Native Americans, but also ones by Latino activists, to reclaim rights and to celebrate their cultures.

---

[1] desfile, [2] lamentar