Na Who Dey Celebrate Columbus Day? Na Big Wahala!

Detroit, Michigan – Columbus Day don come again, and e fit mean plenty things for different people, depending on where you dey chop life for United States. This holiday, wey dey fall for di second Monday of October, find am as one of di most confusing holidays wey people dey celebrate anyhow (abi na no dey celebrate at all? Uh-oh!).

For di federal level, Columbus Day be official holiday so federal workers fit enjoy paid day off, but e no dey sweet everywhere. Dis year, e get as e be because plenty federal offices don close due to di current government shutdown wey be like say dem no wan gree make people collect dem pay. No mail delivery too! Just like dem talk say, “No be every day you go see light” (and for this case, no be every day you go see mail).

But banks and di bond markets wey dey handle U.S. government debt go close shop, while stock markets wey dey do business as usual, go dey open for people wey wan hustle. No wahala! Plenty retailers too, dey ready to serve you. But abeg, if you dey work, check am whether your workplace dey celebrate this Day of Columbus or dem don quick change am to something else (like dem no wan gree hear di name).

As e don be now, about 30 states and three territories from di U.S. dey recognize Columbus Day to some extent! Olodo, anoda one na sey some of dem states dey celebrate am for specific dates. For Washington, e dey on October 12, and for Puerto Rico, dem dey observe di holiday on November 19 (no be joke). But check am well, only 20 states and two territories dey give workers paid leave to celebrate di holiday.

Now, dis year, some states don begin dey celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead. Na wetin? Na as dem dey feel say Columbus no be person wey we suppose dey celebrate due to di wahala wey e cause for di Indigenous folks. Di critics point out sey di matter no be for small talk, na serious matter wey dey require attention.

Six states dey honor Native Americans as part of dia observation for dis day while some states dey recognize am on other days (you no fit leave dat one behind). And dem get plenty history matter to show say Native Americans suffer serious losses since Columbus waka enter di scene.

Many people don dey ask, wetin we dey celebrate? Some dey call for change, saying we suppose look towards honoring Indigenous heritage instead of celebrating European explorers who bring better wahala for dem.

For states like California and American Samoa, dem don recognize di second Monday of October as Indigenous Peoples Day, although dem still hear di sound of Columbus name for di same day too. Some states go even change am back to di Friday after Thanksgiving for workers (because you know say we dey need those long weekends!). In Tennessee, dem don come up with idiosyncratic way to handle Columbus konundrum.

In di debate no fit finish my people, plenty folks dey insist sey all these celebrations reflect ongoing narratives wey dey divide people. Na why dem sey “two holiday, one day, different stories!” Because as dem see am, Columbus Day dey honor history from one perspective, while some dey push for Indigenous Peoples’ Day to show di other side of di story. As di say go, two sides no dey ever agree on di same matter!

So, whichever way you go, just remember, Columbus Day fit mean plenty different things for different folks. Whether na free time on your calendar or just another Monday in your hustle, na your choice. Just know say e get plenty stories wey dey climb on top each other, waiting for you to check am out!