The Unknown History of Columbus Day

Today marks the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas.

Well, kind of.

Columbus's voyage actually ended on Oct. 12, 1492, but the government-observed holiday lands squarely on the Monday closest to that date.

Columbus gets the reputation as being the first European to sail to the Americas. Columbus, born in the Republic of Genoa in Italy, sailed under the Spanish flag. That's controversial but Italian-Americans started celebrating his reputed discovery in the 1860s in San Fransisco.

Colorado renamed the tradition Columbus Day more than 100 years ago. It became a federal holiday in the United States in 1937, though three states don't observe the day (Alaska, Hawaii and South Dakota). Others, including California, don't give government workers a day off but still mark the anniversary.

The U.S. is not alone in observing the epic voyage.

It's celebrated as the Dia de la Raza, or Day of the Race, in lots of Latin American countries because Columbus's visit was the first encounter between Europeans and the Native Americans, creating the Hispanic race. The day was first celebrated in Argentina in 1917, Venezuela and Colombia in 1921, Chile in 1922, and Mexico in 1928.

Of course, for most people that just means a day off school, a long holiday weekend from work or a sweet sale—check out the Capitola Mall today.

That means no mail delivery, a closed DMV and no chance to swing by offices at the court or city to pay bills or fines today. But most businesses around Santa Cruz County should be open.

Enjoy the day off.