Fall means that Columbus Day is just around the corner. In the US this is always celebrated on the second Monday in October. What the Columbus Day holiday means to you varies greatly with which part of the country you live in. Some states have huge festivals or events with parties bands and the works. In other states if the banks and federal buildings weren’t closed no one would notice that the Columbus Day holiday even exists. In fact, the states of Nevada and Hawaii do not recognize Columbus Day as a holiday at all.
Columbus Day originally began as a way to recognize the accomplishments of Christopher Columbus. He was an Italian explorer who is credited with discovering the Americas and Caribbean. The holiday was then made popular by the Italian population in the Americas. Annually, Columbus Day is celebrated as a major event in many Italian-American communities.
Are you researching ways on how to celebrate Columbus Day? There are so many ways to celebrate that deciding can be tough. Family is big in the Italian culture. Columbus day gives you the perfect excuse to get together, relax and have fun. If you are looking for ways to celebrate, this following list is sure to get you started!
How to Celebrate Columbus Day Idea #1
Attend a parade. Join in the fun by going to a parade. This almost always guarantees family fun. A schedule of parades can usually be found on tourism websites for your city or on local news media websites.
How to Celebrate Columbus Day Idea #2
Watch a televised parade. If you’re in an area like mine Columbus Day is a no-show holiday. Why not celebrate by watching a parade on TV? Check your local listings to see what parades are being covered.
How to Celebrate Columbus Day Idea #3
Make a coloring book. Print several sheets of free printable Columbus Day coloring pages. Staple the edges of the sheets to make a book. Give these to your children and their friends. It’s a quick, easy and inexpensive way to celebrate.
How to Celebrate Columbus Day Idea #4
Make crafts with the kids. You can build paper boats or hats or create your own version of island crafts. Enchanted Crafts has several ideas that you can choose from. When it comes to celebrating Columbus day as a family, the sky is the limit!
How to Celebrate Columbus Day Idea #5
Host a backyard regatta using homemade boats and a kiddie pool. Don’t put away that summer kiddie pool just yet. If the weather is warm you can host your own backyard regatta. Have each child bring a homemade boat or make some at your Columbus Day party. Fill the pool with water to the desired level. Mark one side Spain and the other side The Americas. Let the kids see how fast their boats can sail across the seas.
How to Celebrate Columbus Day Idea #6
Eat Italian. Columbus sailed from Spain but he was actually Italian. From using pizza delivery to dining out eating Italian is a great way to celebrate the holiday. Plus, it’s easy. At the very least you can add a jar of spaghetti sauce to cooked hamburger and boil the pasta.
How to Celebrate Columbus Day Idea #7
Learn more about the history of Columbus Day. Go to the library, search the internet or check out Discovery Channel Online. There are tons of resources available about the history of Columbus Day.Use the information as background to host your own celebration.
How to Celebrate Columbus Day Idea #8
Learn about Italian contributions to society. From Italian cuisine to fancy cars, Italians have contributed a lot to daily life around the globe. Have you ever heard of Ferrari, DeLorean or Maserati? Visit the website of the National Italian American Foundation to learn more.
Sources:
Personal Experience on Celebrate Columbus Day
The above referenced websites
