Freitag, 12. Oktober 2012

Columbus Day

Datei:Christopher Columbus.PNG
Sebastiano del Piombo (1485–1547),  Christoph Kolumbus 1519

Christoph Kolumbus erreichte am 12. Oktober 1492 die dem amerikanischen Kontinent vorgelagerten Karibischen Inseln. 

Under the auspices of the Monarchs of Spain, Christopher Columbus completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents. Those voyages, and his efforts to establish permanent settlements on the island of Hispaniola, initiated the Spanish colonization of the New World.

In many countries of the New World October 12 is celebrated as an official holiday. It is Columbus Day in the United States, the Día de la Raza in many countries in Latin America, Discovery Day in the Bahamas, the Día de la Hispanidad and Fiesta Nacional in Spain, Día del Respeto a la Diversidad Cultural (Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity) in Argentina and Día de las Américas (Day of the Americas) in Uruguay. These holidays have been celebrated unofficially since the late 18th century, and officially in various areas since the early 20th century. Since 1971, the holiday has been fixed in the United States to the second Monday in October*. (Source: Wikipedia)

*In 1971 President Johnson signed into law a bill making four additional holidays fall on Monday each year: Columbus Day second Monday in October, Veterans Day fourth Monday in October,
Washington’s Birthday third Monday in February (is also called Presidents Day honoring both Washington and Lincoln), and Memorial Day the last Monday in May.
Labor Day had already been celebrated regularly on the first Monday in September.



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