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A little reason to celebrate

Columbus Day

Federal holiday · History · The second Monday in October

Columbus Day is a US federal holiday on the second Monday in October, recalling Christopher Columbus and his voyages across the Atlantic.

Columbus Day falls on Monday, October 11, 2027. That is 349 days away.

Columbus Day is a federal holiday in the United States, held on the second Monday in October. It recalls Christopher Columbus, the Italian-born navigator whose voyages, sailing for Spain, crossed the Atlantic and reached islands in the Caribbean.

As a federal holiday, it closes federal offices, and mail is not delivered. Banks often close too. Many schools and private businesses stay open, so for a lot of people the day looks much like any other Monday, with a little less traffic near the post office.

The ships most often named in the story are the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa María. They were small wooden sailing vessels, and the crossing took weeks on open water with no reliable way to measure longitude. Reading about how sailors navigated then, by compass, dead reckoning and the stars, gives a sense of how uncertain each day at sea must have been.

In some cities the day is marked with parades, and many Italian American communities treat it as a time to share heritage, food and family stories. Others use the long weekend for travel, or simply for a slower morning.

The holiday's meaning is discussed differently by different people, and many places in the country mark the day in their own ways. Looking into how your own town handles the second Monday in October can be a quiet bit of local history in itself.

Ways to celebrate

• Read about how sailors navigated before modern instruments.
• Look at a historical map of the Atlantic crossing routes.
• Visit a local library display or museum exhibit on exploration history.
• Ask an older relative about family migration stories.
• Check whether your town holds a parade or local event.

Dates

All national days on October 11

Also on October 11

• National Sausage Pizza Day
• It's My Party Day
• Yom Kippur

Categories: Federal holidaysHistory days