Federal Holiday: Columbus Day (October 10)

Christopher Columbus, often mistakenly believed to be born in Italy, actually had an Italian heritage. However, he was not born in Italy as it did not exist as a country until 1861. Instead, he was born in Barcelona, Kingdom of Aragon, twenty years before the explorer Cristoval Colom, who is credited with discovering the New World.

The Republic of Genoa, where Columbus's supposed birthplace lies, became entangled in the struggle for power and influence between France and Aragon during the 1450s and 1460s. This historical account differs from what is commonly found in US history books.

On October 12, 1866, Italian organizations in San Francisco celebrated Columbus Day, which was later observed on October 12 every year. In 1905, Colorado became the first state to officially recognize Columbus Day, and other states followed suit over the next two decades. President Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed October 12 as Columbus Day in 1937.

Today, Columbus Day is a federal holiday celebrated on the second Monday in October each year, giving federal workers a paid day off. It's one of the 10 official federal holidays recognized by the United States government. While some states and cities choose to celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day instead, citing Columbus's mistreatment of natives, many others continue to observe this significant historical event.

The Italian-American Community in San Francisco celebrates the Italian Heritage Parade annually, featuring dignitaries, music, performances, floats, and representatives from Italian and Italian-American organizations. For more information about the parade, visit 'San Francisco Italian Heritage Parade'(https://www.example.com).

In conclusion, Columbus Day is a federal holiday that commemorates Christopher Columbus's discovery of America in 1492. While there are differing accounts of his birthplace, it is widely accepted that he was an Italian explorer who changed the course of history.

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