Many countries in the New World and elsewhere celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas, which happened on October 12, 1492, as a holiday or official celebration. The landing is celebrated as Columbus Day in the United States, as DÃa de la Raza (“Day of the Race”) in many countries in Latin America, as Discovery Day in the Bahamas, as DÃa de la Hispanidad and Fiesta Nacional in Spain, as DÃa del Respeto a la Diversidad Cultural (Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity) in Argentina, as DÃa de las Américas (Day of the Americas) in Belize and Uruguay and as Giornata Nazionale di Cristopher Columbus or Festa Nazionale di Cristopher Columbus in Italy and in the Little Italys around the world. These holidays have been celebrated unofficially since the late 18th century, and officially in various areas since the early 20th century. This holiday has met with a long history of opposition with several regions in the United States either refusing to observe it or celebrating a different event entirely.
