Columbus Day in the USA is celebrated on the second Monday of October.

On October 12, 1492, the Spanish navigator Christopher Columbus landed in the New World - on this day, the expedition of Christopher Columbus reached the island of San Salvador in the Bahamas Archipelago, which was later taken as the official date of the discovery of America.

Although most other American countries celebrate Columbus Day on October 12, in the United States it is celebrated on the second Monday of October.

This event is quite controversial, because the settlement of Europeans in America led to the disappearance of the culture and history of many indigenous peoples of the mainland.

For the first time in the USA this holiday was celebrated massively in 1792 - in honor of the 300th anniversary of the discovery of America. At the same time, a monument to the navigator was erected in Baltimore, and 100 years later, on the 400th anniversary of this event, a statue of Columbus was erected in New York, and US President Benjamin Harrison called on Americans to make this solemn day a holiday for the country.

And although for a long time this holiday was unofficially celebrated in many states, in 1937 it was declared an official public holiday throughout the country, and its celebration was set for October 12. But in 1971, the American Congress decided to celebrate Columbus Day on the second Monday in October.

Currently, on this day, the US population celebrates the anniversary of the discovery of their country by attending festive church services and other events. In some cities, special services, parades and large ceremonies are held. Special mention should be made of the festive events held in New York and San Francisco.

Columbus Day is a public holiday in many parts of the United States, but in some states, for example, in California, Nevada, Hawaii, the day is not celebrated. The US national flag is raised over government buildings.

Nazira Artykbayeva, librarian of the International Book Department