How the Italian American community celebrates Columbus Day

On Monday, Fifth Avenue in New York City hosted the th annual Columbus Day Parade – the world’s largest celebration of Italian-American culture and heritage. According to the Columbus Citizen Foundation, a nonprofit group that organizes the parade every year, over groups participated in this year’s parade, including over marching bands, floats and dozens of performance groups. At various street corners along th to nd street, Italian flags were being sold to passersby. Jenna Espisito, a singer known for her dedication to the “Great Italian American Songbook,” rode on a float while performing.

The parade featured floats with musicians belting out tunes that could be heard blocks away. On another float, a woman was giving out free Italian flags and candy. There were crowds of people waiting in line for minutes at a time just to cross the street. Chris Vaccaro, a board trustee of the Italian American Baseball Foundation, joined the parade with his wife and small children in a wagon covered in Italian flags, the American flag and streamers of red, green and white – the colors of the Italian flag.

“According to Vaccaro, memories are what this holiday is really about. sharing stories, taking pictures, and having great conversations with family and friends. It’s about celebrating the contributions and resilience of Indigenous peoples, and remembering the nation’s failed promises to them.

Southeast Italy and a first-generation American. She stood with her husband next to a car decorated in the Italian flag colors on the intersection of th street and fifth avenue. This was her third year participating in the Columbus Day Parade. “My father went through a lot as an immigrant to come here, so it’s always important to remember and be celebrated for where you come from,” she said.

In recent years, Columbus Day has drawn controversy from people who say the holiday celebrates exploration that led to the mistreatment of indigenous people. State lawmakers have introduced a bill that would change the public holiday of Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s Day. The bill summary states “Indigenous People’s Day reimagines Columbus Day and changes a celebration of colonialism into an opportunity to reveal historical truths.

“It is important for us, as Indigenous people in the Americas, to celebrate our resistance against current injustices and to remember those who have fought before us,” Vaccaro said. “I think it’s important to respect everyone’s beliefs and anyone that calls it Indigenous People’s Day. Even if a holiday is not embraced by everyone, it is important to respect other opinions.”

Prudente said this holiday does not necessarily need to be called “Columbus Day” but could be called “Italian-American Heritage Day” instead. Scelsa said he thinks Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day should be celebrated on different days.

The moral

Although there is controversy surrounding the holiday of Columbus Day, it is important to remember that the holiday is about celebrating exploration and discovery. Changing the holiday to Indigenous People’s Day would be a way of acknowledging the mistreatment of indigenous people in the past and honoring their culture and contributions to society.