Columbus Day

According to Smithsonian magazine, New York City had the first Columbus Day celebration, on October 12, 1792. The New York Columbian Order, popularly known as Tammany Hall, organized the celebration in honor of the 300th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ landing on this side of the Atlantic. The Smithsonian states that “the ceremonies were held by Italian immigrants and Catholics who were proud of Columbus’ Italian heritage.”

I haven’t been able to find much about that celebration, although I suspect that it did not feature a parade. Other cities claim to have had the first Columbus Day parade. The photo below captures the 1892 parade in New York’s Union Square.

Columbus Day parade at Union Square, 1892

This year’s Columbus Day parade was supposed to take place today. However, it was cancelled because of the prediction of a powerful nor’easter. As I write this around the time the parade would have occurred, I see high winds but little rain.