Why do we celebrate Columbus Day in Columbus Ohio?

This was originally posted on Discover Columbus (a different blog) back in 2006... but it's name back then was Columbus Best Blog.

Why do we celebrate Columbus Day in Columbus? Because it is Columbus Day.  Because we are the biggest and best Columbus in the US,  Wikipedia says so.  Because until the state of Ohio changes the name of the state capital to something politically correct and oh so catchy like "Indigenous Resistance" we will remain Columbus Ohio.

We are just one of many US cities named Columbus after Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer... who sailed the ocean blue back in 1492... for the Spanish.  I saw an Ohio blog that called Christopher Columbus a "genocist."  I can not find genocist in an English dictionary or a Spanish dictionary... one online dictionary says:

"The spanish word 'genocist' was not found, have you entered the accents correctly?  If you think 'genocist' should be in our dictionary please contact us, and we'll try to add it."

I probably don't have the correct accent.  I don't think of Columbus being controversial  until a few days before Columbus Day each year.Instead of Columbus Day, some people prefer to celebrate "Day of Indigenous Resistance."  In Latin America some celebrate "Day of the Race" which if I am not mistaken is a celebration of the Spanish heritage. I think I always thought it was a celebration of the indigenous races.

A New York blogger, 'Brendan's Mommy' shares young Brendan's take on why to celebrate Columubus Day  on her blog:

"We celebrate Columbus Day because a man named Christopher Columbus sailed 3 ships - to Ohio to go to the capital. And the ships are called the Nina, the Panda and Santa Maria. "

According to Wikipedia:  "Italian-Americans observe Columbus Day as a celebration of Italian-American heritage."

Happy Columbus Day or whatever you celebrate... 

Ways to celebrate Columbus Ohio in 2009 include:

Experience Columbus Days -  through October 12*

50% off Central Ohio events like The Santa Maria, The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, COSI and more

The Columbus Italian Festival October 9, 10, 11 2009

Columbus Calendar of Events - October 2009

* There is no Columbus Day Parade in Columbus Ohio on Columbus Day....  if you need a parade this weekend there is a parade on Sunday afternoon at the Columbus Italian Festival!!!!!!

2:00 - 2:45 Columbus Italian Parade (Hamlet & 1st Streets)

Photo Credit 

The photo of the Santa Maria against the Columbus Ohio sky  -  tlarroww owner shared the photo with a Creative Commons license which allows commercial use.