This Day in History
12th October 1492
Columbus Day is a U.S. federal holiday that commemorates Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the New World on October 12, 1492. Though Columbus believed he had reached India, his voyage initiated European exploration and colonization of the Americas. The holiday, observed on the second Monday of October, is traditionally a celebration of Italian-American heritage, as Columbus was from Genoa, Italy.
First observed by Italian immigrants in the 19th century, Columbus Day became a national holiday in 1937 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. However, the holiday has become controversial due to the negative impact of colonization on indigenous peoples. Some U.S. states and cities have replaced it with Indigenous Peoples’ Day or Native American Day to honor the original inhabitants.
Despite debates, Columbus Day remains a public holiday, with government offices and banks closed, while celebrations, including parades, continue in cities like New York and Denver.
Random facts!
The shortest war in history
It erupted when Sultan Khalid bin Barghash unexpectedly took the throne without British approval, violating a treaty and triggering a swift military conflict. When he stubbornly refused to step down, the British bombarded his palace. Khalid fled to the German consulate, where he desperately sought asylum, and Britain installed a puppet Sultan.
The story of the QWERTY keyboard
The QWERTY keyboard was designed in the 19th century to help telegraph operators transcribe Morse code. It became the standard when Remington adopted it in the 1880s, creating a market lock-in that made switching to more efficient layouts, like Dvorak, impractical. Despite its flaws, QWERTY remains dominant due to familiarity worldwide.
Seahorses: fathers of the sea
Seahorses are distinctive because males carry and give birth to young. During courtship, the female deposits eggs into the male’s brood pouch, where they are fertilized and develop for 2-4 weeks before birth. Despite producing dozens to 1,000 offspring, survival rates are low. They’re one of the few species in the world where males give birth.
Trivia Time!
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