October 14, 2013 (Monday)
Columbus Day comemmorates Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492. Since 1970, it is celebrated on the second Monday of October, which is today. The arrival of Christopher Columbus is celebrated in many countries in Latin America, in the Bahamas, in Spain, in Argentina, in Belize and in Uruguay. Each country has its own name for the day.
Some states do not observe the day, and others modify the observance. In some states the day is renamed, and in others there is no observance at all.
The Post Office, banks and federal offices are closed today. Some schools make this a teachers’ work day.
A joke about Coumbus says, “When he left home, he didn’t know where he was going. When he got there, he didn’t know where he was. When he came back, he really didn’t know where he had been.” Somewhat true, at least after his first trip west.
Perhaps you learned this poem in school:
In fourteeen hundred ninety-two
Columbus sailed the ocean blue.
He had three ships and left from Spain;
He sailed through sunshine, wind and rain.
(only 2 of many verses)
