Columbus Day (12 October) (1961)

Today we take for granted that the world is round. In the 15^th century, however, most people believed the world was flat. People laughed at jailed others who dared think the world was in the shape of a globe.

An Italian named Christopher Columbus was bold enough to push this notion, and ask for money to explore the seas, and find what he thought would be the other hemisphere of the earth. Portugal, Italy and England refused to support such a venture.

Christopher Columbus convinced Queen Isabella of Spain that it would be easier to sail directly west and find the rich of India and Asia. A new route would be found, he said, and possible new lands for Spain.

Finally, on August 3, 1492, he and ninety men set sail on the flagship Santa Maria. Two other ships, the Nina and the Pinta, came with him. They sailed west. Three long months went by. His men became tired and sick, and threatened to turn the ships back. Columbus encouraged them, certain that they would find the spice trail to the East. On October 11^th Columbus saw a light. The Pinta kept sailing, and reported that the light was, in fact, land. The next morning at dawn they landed.

Few celebrations marked the discovery until hundreds of years later. The continent was not even named after Columbus, but an Italian explorer named Amerigo Vespucci. In 1792, a ceremony was held in New York honouring Columbus, and was dedicated to him. Soon after that, the city of Washington was officially named the District of Columbus and became the capital of the US.

Americans might not have a Columbus Day if Christopher Columbus had not been born in Italy. Out of pride for their native son, the Italian population of New York City organised the first celebration of the discovery of America on October 12, 1866. The next year, more Italian organisation in other cities held banquets, parades and dances on that day. In 1869, when Italians of San Francisco celebrated October 12, they called it Columbus Day. Although it is generally accepted that Christopher Columbus was the first European to have discovered the New World of the Americas, there is still some controversy over this claim.

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13. Hallo’ween (31 October) (2940)

On October 31^st, dozens of children dressed in costumes, knock on their neighbours’ doors. Pirates and princesses, ghosts and popular heroes of the day all hold bags open to catch the candy or other goodies that the neighbours drop in. As they give each child a treat, the neighbours exclaim over the costumes and try to guess who is under the masks. November 1^st is a religious holiday known as All Saints’ Day (or formerly, All Hallows Day). The day before the holy day is known as All Hallows’ Eve. The word “Halloween” comes from that form. Like some other American celebrations, its origins lie in both pre-Christian and Christian customs. October 31^st was the eve of the Celtic New Year. The Celts were the ancestors of the present-day Irish, Welsh, and Scottish people. On this day, ghosts walked and mingled with the living, or so the Celts thought. The townspeople baked food all that day, and when night fell, they dressed up and tried to resemble the souls of the dead. Hoping that the ghosts would leave peacefully before carried the food to the edge of town and left it for them. Today, school dances and neighbourhood parties called block parties are popular among young and old alike. More and more adults celebrate Halloween. They dress up like historical or political figures and go to masquerade parties. In larger cities, costumed children and their parents gather at shopping malls early in the evening. Teenagers enjoy costume dances at their schools, and the more outrageous the costume the better!

American settlers brought their holiday customs from the old countries. Some of these customs stayed as they were. Some were changed to fit new ways of living. Americans also made up new Halloween customs of their own. Many early settlers came from England. They were religious and very strict. They did not have funny parties and celebrations. These settlers brought their belief in witches. Many real people were thought to be witches. American Indians also believed in witches. So did the Negroes who brought their belief in black magic from Africa. Fear of witches grew much worse in the seventeenth century. Special “Witch Finders” carried on “Witch Hunts”. There were famous witch trails, especially in the colony of Massachusetts. Large crowds came to watch. Persons found guilty were punished or killed. It is said that one woman was called a witch because she baked an apple dumpling. How could she get the apple inside the dumpling unless she knew black magic? The woman was brought to trial in court; she made an apple dumpling for all to see. Only then was she set free.

America grew. Pioneers opened up the West Pioneering people were hearty and full of fun. Their Halloween pranks were full of fun too. Gay Halloween gatherings were often held in barns. There were taffy candy pulls and corn-popping parties. There were tricks too. A farmer would wake and blink his eyes. His wagon would be on top of the barn roof. Another would find his front gate hanging from a tree. Soap was rubbed over windows! “The goblins must have done it”, people would laugh and say.

Orange or gold, and black are the Halloween colours. Orange and gold stand for ripe fruits and grain. This harvest idea comes from Pomona. Black is for black magic and black cats, for the mystery of Halloween. This comes from Samhain. Halloween in America has become a big holiday for boys and girls. Surprisingly enough, Halloween is not much of a holiday now in England, Scotland and Ireland. Americans have been the ones to keep the holiday alive.

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