OCTOBER 12

"In 1492, Columbus sailed the blue."  That's the way I learned it in grammar school.  Columbus Day was a 'free day' from school every year.  It was designated as October 12.  Now, Columbus Day is the second Monday of October.   This year Columbus Day happens to fall on the original date.

On this date in 1492, the ships of Columbus, the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria made landfall in the "Bahamas".  Christopher Columbus named the port San Salvador (holy savior).  The triad of sailing ships actually left Spain on August 3rd and sailed south to the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa.  They left there on September 6th.  The trip across the Atlantic took about five weeks.  

Incidentally, don't confuse this Christopher with the Saint Christopher (Christ bearer)  venerated by many churches.  That Christopher lived and died in the 3rd century.

o.o