New Delhi, Oct. 13 -- Columbus Day is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating Italian explorer Christopher Columbus's landing in the Americas on October 12, 1492. Since 1971, it has been observed annually on the second Monday of October. In 2025, Columbus Day will fall on Monday (October 13).

The holiday celebrates Columbus's contributions to exploration and the Age of Discovery, as well as Italian-American heritage. However, in recent decades, the observance has become controversial due to the historical consequences of European colonization on Indigenous peoples.

First celebrations: The first formal celebration of Columbus's landing occurred in 1792 in New York City, organized by the Columbian Order (Society of St. Tamman...