Many Americans aren’t working today because it’s Columbus Day. For some, particularly Italian Americans, the day remains a celebration of heritage, marked by parades, community gatherings, and tributes to Italian culture and contributions to the United States. These celebrations date back to the late 19th century when Italian immigrants sought to honor their ancestry and gain broader acceptance in American society.
However, across much of the country—including here in Vermont—the day is now observed as Indigenous Peoples’ Day, a time to honor and celebrate the history, culture, and resilience of Native peoples. The holiday serves as a reminder of the deep and complex history of this land long before European exploration and colonization, and it’s meant to center on Indigenous voices and stories that were too often ignored or silenced.
My university doesn’t officially recognize Columbus Day—or Indigenous Peoples’ Day—as a holiday, so while many Americans might have the day off work, I don’t. For most, it’s simply an excuse for stores to hold big sales anyway. I actually went shopping this weekend for some winter clothes. With the weight I’ve lost, I didn’t have a coat or much in the way of cold-weather clothing, and the temperatures are already dropping fast. So, I treated myself to two new coats—one casual and one more formal—and several new sweaters to help keep me warm. I’m very happy with my purchases.
Losing weight has felt great, but it does mean buying an entirely new wardrobe, which gets expensive quickly. Still, I’ve always enjoyed shopping for clothes, so I can’t complain too much.
Anyway, enough babbling for today. Whether you’re enjoying a long weekend, are retired and free from the Monday grind, or—like me—are working through the holiday, I hope you have a great day and a wonderful week ahead. Here’s hoping it’s less aggravating than last week!
8 comments:
In Canada, we are celebrating Thanks Giving Weekend, yours in November.
Festa per il giorno di Cristoforo Colombo
Mama’s makin’ the traditional lasagne with meat sauce, scampi, antipasto salad, zuppa minestrone and cannoli for dessert. All from old family recipes that go back to when her side of the family moved to America in 1900.
Delizioso !
Br’klyn Boy
It sounds delicious. I wish I was eating with you.
Me encantaría probar semejante banquete. ¿Qué son los cannoli?
Ángel
El pasado 12 de octubre se ha celebrado el día de la FIESTA NACIONAL en España. También incluimos a todos los pueblos y razas en este día de la hispanidad hermanadas en el mismo dia 12.
Ángel
Anonymous. Where are the recipes?
Cannoli are a fried, sweet tube shaped pastry filled with sweetened ricotta cheese flavored with rum or amaretto liqueur mixed with chopped pistachio nuts, chocolate chips and maraschino cherries.
Cannoli originated in the 9th century with the Saracen Arabs in Sicily.
Los cannoli son unos pasteles fritos y dulces con forma de tubo rellenos de queso ricotta endulzado aromatizado con ron o licor de amaretto mezclado con pistachios picados, chispas de chocolate y cerezas al marrasquino.
Los cannoli se originaron en el siglo IX con los árabes sarracenos en Sicilia.
Br’klyn Boy
Mama makes lasagna simple with 1 can tomato sauce, 1can chopped tomatoes, 1can tomato paste, 1 pound cooked ground beef, 1chopped onion, 1 chopped bell pepper, chopped up mushrooms, seasoned with basil, oregano, marjoram, minced parsley and a bay leaf. Add 4 garlic cloves, some red wine and a ladle full of water used to cook the lasagna pasta. She uses regular lasagna noodles that have been boiled in water and then adds layers of the lasagna, the meat sauce, ricotta cheese and tops it off with shredded provolone cheese.
The scampi are just boiled and served with drawn butter mixed with capers, pimentos, garlic, lemon juice and minced parsley.
Mama makes antipasto with spinach and spring greens, prosciutto, salami, red onion sliced thin, garbanzo beans, fava beans, cherry tomatoes, orange segments and a dressing of red pepper flakes, parmesan and romano cheese with oil and vinegar.
Br’klyn Boy
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