Columbus Day, October 12

INTRODUCTION
After sailing across the Atlantic for months, on October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus arrived on an island he called San Salvador. When he returned to Spain, he mistakenly proclaimed that he had reached the rich and wonderful land of India. Europeans were excited by his stories and began planning more voyages across the Atlantic. It was not many years before Europeans realized they had found other lands—North and South America. Since Columbus’ voyage began the wave of exploration and colonization that eventually led to our nation, we honor him each year on the day he arrived in this new world.

POEM

Columbus Day

By Myra Livingston Cohn

Across the word,
Columbus,
you dreamt your wild schemes.

You slept on decks
of sailing ships;
you nailed the wooden beams.

You coaxed west wind
into the sails;
you mended tattered seams.

Across the word,
Columbus,
you dreamt your wild dreams.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Livingston, Myra Cohn. 1985. CELEBRATIONS. Paintings by Leonard Everett Fisher. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 0-8234-0550-8

EXTENSION

Find out what conditions were like on early sailing ships. What did the sailors eat? What were their beds like? What jobs had to be done on board? What frightening things might happen? What do you think the sailors might have done for fun? Then pretend you were on board one of Columbus’ three ships. Write a few journal entries describing what happened as your sailed across the ocean.

Photo courtesy of http://www.hellasmultimedia.com/