Columbus Day is a national
holiday in many countries in the
Americas and elsewhere which officially celebrates the anniversary of
Christopher Columbus' arrival and
Discovery of America, which happened on October 12, 1492. The landing is celebrated as
Columbus Day in the
United States, as
Día de la Raza ("Day of the Race") in many countries in
Latin America and as
Día de la Hispanidad and
Fiesta Nacional in
Spain, where it is also the religious festivity of
La Virgen del Pilar. It is also celebrated as
Día de las Américas (Day of the Americas) in
Belize and
Uruguay, as
Discovery Day in the
Bahamas, as
Día del Respeto a la Diversidad Cultural (Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity) in
Argentina and as
Giornata Nazionale di Cristoforo Colombo or
Festa Nazionale di Cristoforo Colombo in
Italy and in the
Little Italys around the world. These holidays have been celebrated unofficially since the late 18th century and officially in various countries since the early 20th century.