Columbus Day: A Day For Personal Growth
Posted: Saturday, October 10, 2009
by Gerry Charbonneau
http://nibblednews.typepad.com
"In fourteen hundred and ninety two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue ." --- Child's learning verse
Happy Columbus Day!
Columbus Day, celebrated in the United States on the second Monday in October, is the day set aside to commemorate the historic landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. It became an official state holiday in Colorado in 1905 and made a federal holiday in 1934. This year , 2009, we celebrate the historic day on October 12th.
For the most part, the day is celebrated as a public holiday in many parts of the United States. Not all states though observe it in the same manner. Most banks, some financial markets, federal agencies such as the U.S. Postal Service , and most state government offices, and many school districts are closed for the day.
In the U.S. , Columbus Day is typically a celebration of Italian and Italian-American cultural heritage. The day provides an opportunity to reaffirm the close historic ties between Italy and the United States.
Like some other holidays the day has been officially moved to Monday so that more people can have a three-day weekend to spend time with their families. In New York City parades and other special events are planned.
The day itself is not without its share of controversy. In Hawaii the day is not celebrated as a national holiday. In the state of Minnesota the day is also not celebrated because many people there believe that Vikings arrived in North America ( and specifically in Minnesota) well before Columbus landed. In Canada Thanksgiving Day is celebrated instead.
Despite all the public controversy the day could mark a new beginning for a person to explore another part of their personality. The personal voyage of discovery could open new opportunities for you and need not cost a lot of money to finance. Reading a book, starting a new hobby or listening to a different style of music could be an excellent start.
Do something different this coming Monday. Chart your own course and explore new and unknown areas of your life that you have been meaning to examine but have been putting off for some future date.
Columbus's voyage of discovery took many months. Your own personal voyage to rediscover yourself could lead to new adventures and life changing opportunities for personal growth.
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