Columbus Day is celebrated on October 10, 2011, to commemorate the historic landing to the Americas in 1492.It is also a family holiday having entertaining. Christopher Columbus was born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy,in 1451, but the identification of his real nationality is under historial controverse.There is a belief that he was from Catalonia (Barcelona), and was also said to be from France or Portugal. Columbus is widely known as the first European to sail across the Atlantic Ocean and see the new land , the American continent. Some believe that Columbus was not the first European to cross the Atlantic Ocean.
It is believed that Viking sailors established a settlement but did not last long in Newfoundland 1000 AD.
But Columbus made adurable convergence between Europeans and indigenous peoples in the Western Hemisphere.

In the late fifteenth century, Portugal dominated the efforts to establish a sea route between Europe and India by sailing around Africa. Authorized by Queen of Spain,Isabella I in order to excel on the Portuguese, the launching of an expedition in which Columbus sailed west from Spain to reach India. Columbus sailed with the company of about 90 men aboard on three ships in August 1492: the Santa Maria, Niña, and Penta.

After sailing west for five weeks and reached the expedition was set on the island (which is now part of the British Islands,) on 12 October. Columbus named this island, San Salvador as he thought that he had found a new route to India, and thus using the word “Indian” to describe the people who he met there.

Columbus made four trips across the Atlantic Ocean, the first journey (1492-1493) as Zakr above, and the second (1493-1496), Columbus identified most of the Caribbean islands and established a base in Hispaniola. In the third journey (1498-1500) arrived in Trinidad, Venezuela and the Orinoco River Delta, where the American continent was discovered. In the fourth flight (1502-1504) he returned to South America and sailed from the head to the coast of Honduras, Nicaragua and the Mosquito Coast and Viragoa Rica and Panama.

Columbus journeys changed the world map. Discovering both americas European settlement – and the European exploitation – these trips have changed history as well. Columbus died on 1506 believing he had discovered a new passageway to India and Asia, and not, in fact, the gateway to the North and South America. Since 1971, the holiday has been commemorated in the U.S. on the second Monday in October, the same day as Thanksgiving in neighboring Canada. It is generally observed today that the U.S. federal government offices and most banks ,the bond market, the U.S. Postal Service and other federal agencies, most state government offices, and many school districts; are closed. however, most businesses and stock exchanges remain open.

New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston and Denver are some cities have assess to Columbus Day parades and celebrations, where the Italian heritage celebrated its inhabitants by wearing colorful clothes, playing Italian music and cooking Italian foods.
The city of Berkeley, on the same date celebrates the Day of Indigenous making Festival and an Indian market.
Columbus Day is celebrated on October 10, 2011, to commemorate the historic landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. It is also a great opportunity to have a family holiday and some fun with your kids enjoying with them having entertaining crafts and activities.