How to Celebrate Columbus Day
Columbus Day commemorates the day that Italian navigator Christopher Columbus, funded by Queen Isabella of Spain, reached the New World. You may not get the day off work for this holiday, but you can still observe the historic events that happened more than 500 years ago.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Costume Jewelry
- Costume Makeup
- Costumes
- airline tickets to Washington, D.C.
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1
Read Stephen Vincent Benet's poem, "Christopher Columbus."
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2
Go to your town's Columbus Day parade.
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3
Visit the U.S. Capitol and search for images of Christopher Columbus; there are dozens of them, ranging from the massive Columbus Doors at the east entrance of the rotunda to paintings, frescoes and sculptures scattered throughout the Capitol complex.
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4
Take a virtual tour of "1492: An Ongoing Voyage," an online exhibit of the Library of Congress.
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5
Prepare a dinner based on standard seamen's fare of the 15th century, such as salted fish, beef and pork; olive oil; molasses; cheese; honey; raisins; rice; garlic; almonds and dried legumes.
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6
Have the kids stage a skit based on the voyage.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Christopher Columbus, his voyage and the holiday that honors them have become controversial subjects in recent years. See Related Sites for more information.
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Comments
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Today I celebrated Columbus Day by walking into my neighbor's apartment and claiming it as my own. I also gave them a smallpox blanket as a gift.
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This has made my day :)
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nocolumbus
Oct 14, 2007
Christopher Columbus day should be abolished. He was not a hero. He and his men committed murder and rape. How could anyone in their right mind ignore the facts? Our kids should be taught about the arrival of Columbus from the perspective of the people who were already here. Our kids should be given all aspects of this "historical" event and encouraged to make up their own minds about whether Christopher Columbus should be honored. This is what true education is about, not the brainwashing that exists now. -
Nov 22, 2005
We have a tradition of having our Irish cousins come to our house for dinner on Columbus Day. Then we all head down to watch the parade. In return on St. Patrick's day, we go and watch their parade.
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Nov 22, 2005
Every year for Columbus Day, I hang both the American flag and the Italian flag outside my house, and I watch the parade on TV.
