@oldladyplays Why Columbus Day was created
Christopher Columbus was an Italian who never set foot in the new world (he made it to the Bahamas), but the seeds of him having a holiday named after him were sown after the lynching of 11 Italian immigrants in New Orleans in 1891, according to NPR.

Italian immigrants started moving to the United States in bigger numbers around the 1820s.

Following the lynchings, President Benjamin Harrison created Columbus Day as not only a way to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ journey in 1492, but also to highlight the sacrifice and positive contributions of Italian-Americans throughout the country.