A US holiday that falls on October 12 and now celebrated every second Monday of October, Columbus Day commemorates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus? arrival in the New World. He was not the first European to explore other lands, but Columbus established lasting relations between Europeans and natives of the Western Hemisphere.

Columbus Day was not celebrated for many years, taking a back seat to Independence Day (July 4), which commemorates America's declaration of independence from Britain. However, the 300th and 400th anniversaries of Columbus? first landing were observed.

The Italian-American community was among the first to celebrate Columbus Day, as the European explorer is Genoan by birth. The celebration of Columbus Day in California is said to be the second oldest. A lawyer of Genoese descent whose parents settled in California during the nineteenth century was the promoter of this celebration. Columbus Day was declared a federal holiday by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, on the prodding of the Knights of Columbus.

The official observance of Columbus Day started in 1971. Federal offices, banks, post office, and the stock market are all closed during this day. In New York City, known for its strong Italian-American community, schools are closed and parades are the vogue. Noted Italian personalities like fashion designer Roberto Cavalli and minister of defense Antonio Martino have appeared in previous celebrations, which have more than 35,000 participants.

Italian food and cured meat are often part of the menu, as the holiday is a celebration of Italian-American ties. Logo-imprinted plates, cups, napkins, and promotional party items will be useful for Columbus Day. Custom mini flags, banners, and confetti will surely add color to the festivities.

Prepare for Columbus Day with promotional items connoting themes of travel, exploration, and discovery. These are meant to emphasize our beginnings as a people and to instill an appreciation in children for our origins. Columbus Day-themed promotional items like backpacks, telescopes, and mini ships will give the celebration more realism.

Maps, globes, and promotional geographical items establish Columbus Day's importance to every American. For arts and crafts activities, encourage children to draw maps of their neighborhood, taking care to space objects to scale. Kids will learn that before satellites were invented, maps were made by sailors who paid attention to the distance they had gone.