Today is: Columbus Day

Columbus Day celebrates the landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas on October 12, 1492. Columbus, whose journey was financed by the Spanish monarchs King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, was attempting to find a western route to Asia — to China, India, and Asian islands with gold and spices. Instead, he landed in the Bahamas and became the first European to explore the Americas since the Vikings landed in Greenland and Newfoundland about 500 years earlier. Not only does the United States celebrate the day, but many Latin American countries observe it as "Día de la Raza," Spain observes it as "Día de la Hispanidad," and various other countries celebrate the day as well.

Source: Checkiday.com

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Today is: Columbus Day