Happy Columbus Day!

Columbus Day is the celebration of Christopher Columbus "discovering" America in 1492. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain gave him the money for his expedition when the Italians wouldn't.

But there is controversy over both the holiday and Columbus himself. For it is the Native Americans who "discovered" America long before Columbus--and there is the matter of the mistreatment of the Native Americans after Columbus' landing. He and his crew traveled with three ships: The Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria, but it's unclear whether he even reached the mainland of America. He landed on October 12th on the island of Haiti--and it is for his mistreatment of the native peoples that some people don't believe Columbus should be celebrated. So instead the holiday celebrates his "discovery" for the Europeans who, until then, believed the world was flat and ended somewhere in the Atlantic. Today the holiday also signifies a celebration of Italian heritage.

Links:



For more information on Columbus and Columbus Day:

http://www.patriotism.org/columbus_day/

Holiday Insights

Internet Family Fun


Printables and activities for Columbus Day:

Columbus Day Printables

Coloring Pictures and Reading Activities

Coloring pages, wordfind puzzles, and more

Columbus Day Clipart--great free clipart graphics!

Discovery School--really cute homuorous graphic of Columbus

Clipart Jungle--Columbus Day graphics