Columbus Day is celebrated on October 12 in the United States and some other countries. This holiday is dedicated to the anniversary of the discovery of America by Columbus, which happened exactly on October 12 (21 according to the Gregorian style) in 1492. On this day, the sailor and his team arrived at the island of San Salvador in the Bahamas. This event is considered the official opening of a new part of the world.

After one of his expeditions, Columbus decided that India could be reached by a shorter route than was previously known. With the financial support of the Spanish monarchs, he set out to sea from the Spanish coast to the west with three ships. Later, he arrived for the first time on American soil, thinking it was India. This “confusion” gave the name to the indigenous population of America – the Indians.

For the first time, Columbus was honored 300 years after the described events. Columbus was Italian, so Americans with Italian roots consider him a part of the culture and a national hero. It was this community that actively promoted the idea of ​​creating a holiday. It was first celebrated in New York in 1866. After 6 years, a statue of Christopher Columbus appeared on Columbus Avenue.