Columbus Day Writing
Prompts #5

101. Before Columbus Day was official, celebrations were held on the 300th and 400th anniversaries of Columbus's voyages, in 1792 and 1892. What are some things in your lifetime you might celebrate the several-hundredth anniversary? How do people remember an event from so long ago?

102. This holiday has been used as a day to support nationalism, war, and loyalty to the United States, even though Columbus came to the Americas long before the country was founded. Do you think Columbus thought that multiple countries would be created in the area he landed? Why or why not?

103. The Columbus celebration was first celebrated as a state holiday in 1906 in Colorado, though it was more like a St. Patrick's Day for Italian-Americans since Columbus was Italian. How do you think the holiday would be different today if it celebrated Italian heritage as opposed to the discovery of the Americas? Why?

104. Some initial attempts to make the holiday more national were opposed by businesses that didn't want to interrupt the busy fall season with another holiday. If you could have more holidays or fewer holidays, which would you choose and why?

105. One of the oldest continuous celebrations for the Columbus celebration takes place in San Francisco, which began celebrating in 1868. Imagine what it might have been like to be there for the first ceremony. How might it be different from the way the holiday is celebrated today?

106. Several cities and counties have replaced the holiday with one called Indigenous People's Day. What do you think this name change means? Do you think the change will catch on over time or that people will always celebrate the Columbus holiday? Why?

107. In the last century or so, some opposition to the holiday has arisen because it seems that Columbus may not have been a very nice guy. Create a conversation between Columbus and one of the first natives he encountered on Hispaniola. Does Columbus seem friendly in the conversation or like more of a schemer?

108. Many natives grew sick after the arrival of Columbus and other Europeans because they didn't have immunity to European diseases. How different do you think doctors and healthcare were in 1492? What might natives and Europeans have used to try to heal themselves before hospitals and vaccines?

109. Multiple Native American organizations are not interested in celebrating a holiday like this one. Why do you think that is? Do you think it's important to hear both sides of a story? Why or why not?

110. There are multiple aspects of the Columbus Day holiday that don't seem worth celebrating, like slavery, disease, and a hostile takeover. What do you think should be celebrated about Columbus Day and why?