Columbus Day is no longer widely celebrated or officially recognized in many places because of its association with the violent colonization and suffering of Indigenous peoples that followed Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas. Concerns about the legacy of Columbus, who is seen as a colonizer responsible for the brutality against Native American populations, have led many states, cities, and tribal governments in the U.S. to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day or other similar holidays that honor the history and culture of Indigenous peoples instead.
Originally celebrated as a federal holiday to honor Italian-American heritage and Columbus’s role in history, the narrative around Columbus has shifted due to growing awareness of Indigenous perspectives, historical violence, and genocide linked to European colonization. This shift began gaining momentum from the 1990s onward and has resulted in many states and localities no longer officially recognizing Columbus Day and instead honoring Indigenous Peoples' Day as a form of acknowledgment and reconciliation. The Biden Administration formally recognized Indigenous Peoples' Day starting in 2021.
In summary, Columbus Day is no longer celebrated in many places because it is increasingly viewed as a symbol of colonization, oppression, and violence against Indigenous peoples, leading to a widespread movement to replace it with Indigenous Peoples' Day to more accurately reflect history and honor Indigenous communities.
