I think we are all very familiar with a large move, however, history’s biggest move, the voyage of Christopher Columbus to the mysterious New World, is one of the largest journeys ever recorded. Celebrated this year on October 12th, 2015, we reflect on the happenings way back in 1492 when Columbus sailed the ocean blue. On August 3, 1492, the Italian-born explorer had set sail, backed by the Spanish leaders, King Ferdinand, and Queen Isabella. Intending to chart a western sea route to the gold islands of Asia, Columbus landed in the Bahamas, becoming the first European to explore the Americas since the Vikings set up colonies during the 10th century.
“Contrary to popular belief, most educated Europeans in Columbus’ day understood that the world was round, but they did not yet know that the Pacific Ocean existed.”
This historical day was officially celebrated in a number of cities and states as early as the 18th century, but it did not become a federal holiday until much later. In 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed Columbus Day a national holiday, largely as a result of the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic organization. Originally observed every October 12, it was fixed to the second Monday in October as of 1971 to the present day.
In many parts of the United States, Columbus Day has evolved into a celebration of Italian-American heritage. Local communities and groups host events, parades, and fairs featuring colorful costumes, music, and Italian food. More specifically, in certain cities and towns, people honor the indigenous people through activities like traditional dance and lessons about Native American culture.
It is pretty safe to say that Christopher Columbus’ journey to the Americas was the biggest move in history. Columbus traveled approximately 29,995 miles in his 3 recorded trips back and forth from Spain to the New World. To put this into perspective, when people moved a considerable distance between 2008 and 2009, it was still only between 50 and 500 total miles moved per person. Columbus’ move was not only farther than the average miles moved today, but the conditions out on the open water and on the new undiscovered land were much more treacherous than just packing up the U-Haul truck. So, while celebrating the discovery of America this weekend, just remember the impact history’s biggest move had on your life today.
Have any more fun facts about Columbus Day? Share your historical knowledge with us here on the blog! Happy Columbus Day!
