Trying to find a way to get more Italian heritage into your day? Or perhaps you’re wondering why you don’t have today off? It’s okay, neither do I.
But Happy Columbus Day nonetheless! I attended the San Francisco Italian Heritage parade yesterday and it’s the oldest such continuous parade of its kind in the nation. Granted it’s more about celebrating Italians in America rather than Columbus, who has a not so sparkling reputation. But whether you call it Indigenous People’s Day or just another Monday, it’s a bit of a mind-boggler to think how much the world changed on that fateful day 500 years ago.
So how do you plan to mark the day? With a book perhaps written by an Italian? Or maybe you’ve got some other secrets that help you get through the first day of the workweek?
Happy Columbus Day! And from my Canadian side, Happy Thanksgiving! : )
ReplyDeleteHappy Columbus Day to you Mark! I was pleased to hear that you attended a fun parade, I had to smile and feel happy that some people are able to celebrate while most are in demonstrations. Our local news only covered protest after protest after protest, and that is fine but it was at the exclusion of everything else.
ReplyDeleteMy weekend was mostly American, I cannot count how many football games I watched but my husband and I did go to a very authentic Italian restaurant, and every time we go there we are forced to ask ourselves how is it that Italians are so darn talented? They have the best food, the best art, the best music, opera, architechture...language, literature...truly God smiled on their piece of land.
I think we need to have the day off because it is a historic day. I hope to be productive today...we'll see.
Happy Columbus Day!
I've never actually celebrated before, but I have a boatload of fresh basil in the fridge so perhaps I'll make some bruschetta and call it good :)
ReplyDeleteGaaah I miss going to the Italian festivals in my hometown. They aren't usually this month but your post has me craving pasta for lunch anyway!
ReplyDeleteI do have the day off and I'm just being lazy!
ReplyDeleteI had a nap. It's the best thing to do on a day off!
ReplyDeleteSince no one in my house had the day off, I forgot it was a holiday! I will yell, "Land ho!" out at the street to celebrate. Maybe I'll google how to say it in Italian.
ReplyDeleteHappy Columbus Day!
ReplyDeleteI'm marking it by reading posts on it. :)
I love the idea of reading something written by an italian, or possibly in italian. I sort of love that.
ReplyDeleteI live in Canada, so I'm celebrating Thanksgiving today.
ReplyDeleteMan, Christopher wasn't very sexy, was he?
Our school has an anti-genocide-celebration day. *sigh* I love my school, but some things it just takes really seriously. Like getting offended over columbus day. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Columbus Day! This isn't a day we celebrate here in Oz ;)
ReplyDeleteWell, at the risk of getting a little dark, my friend said the best way to celebrate Columbus Day was to invade someone's house and tell them they don't own it anymore.
ReplyDeleteLet's see, this week I get to figure out a "vessel" with my 6-year old son that will hopefully float! Should be fun. The indigenous in me wants to have a little extra fun with the theme, but I'm not into causing problems for the little man, so I will sit on my hands. ;-p
ReplyDeleteI spent the day editing and blogging. I didn't have the day off as my son was home sick from school. That, of course, made for a less than productive day. :)
ReplyDeleteWe used to have it as a holiday here, but it got switched to January. So, it was just a regular work day.
ReplyDeleteE.R. – Happy Thanksgiving to you too:)
ReplyDeleteMrsLittleJeans – Yup, Italian art and food its tough to beat. The parade was definitely fun, thanks!
J.A. – Basil and bruschetta…I’m in;)
Steph – I’ve been craving pasta like crazy too. They say a Mediterranean diet is the healthiest…and tastiest.
Alex – Glad you have the day off, enjoy!
Clarissa – Dang a nap, that sounds nice:)
MPax – I know it’s easy to forget what with Halloween coming up, but ‘land ho’ indeed.
Eagle – Glad to hear it:)
Jen – Italians rock:) I suggest some Primo Levi or Boccaccio or Dante if you’re in the mood.
Stina – Happy Thanksgiving, and yes, most sailors aren’t too sexy…at least not back then.
Bethany – Nothing wrong with different perspectives, and truthfully it’s an accurate title (shrug).
Lynda – Well, thanks anyhow:) Do you guys celebrate Captain Cook down there?
McKenzie – Indeed. Although I’d add a bit of slavery, religious zealotry, and general thieving as well;) Check out Howard Zinn’s _A People’s History_, it’s got some eye-opening stuff.
Shannon – Well, it sounds fun. You can focus more on the sailing and exploring aspect rather than the stealing people’s gold part;)
Ciara – What better way for a writer to spend their day than with writing pursuits:)
Donna – Strange, how did it get switched to January? The actual landing was in October.
Happy Columbus Day, Mark. I spent the day editing and tweaking my MS which is out on queries.
ReplyDeleteI LOL at Stina's comment!!!!! Hey, nice digs over ehre too, btw!!
ReplyDeleteI was fortunate enough to spend the last month in Italy, so I dwelled on my many happy memories, worked on my manuscript in progress, and tried not to focus too much on Columbus and genocide.
ReplyDelete...I'm stealing some of Columbus Day's fire, for it's also my birthday ;)
ReplyDeleteSaving everyone a piece of cake!
Thanks Mark for your supportive comments on Sarah's blog regarding my recent release, "South of Charm."
El
I bought myself an ipad, but not because it was Columbus Day. : )
ReplyDeleteOur local scout troop puts out flags on Columbus Day and other holidays, but that's about as much celebration as I do here. :)
ReplyDelete