Columbus Day - Learning about Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus, born in Genoa, Italy, believed he could reach the East Indies by sailing west. After many rejections, he secured funding from Spain's King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. In 1492, Columbus set sail with three ships, the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. After a long journey, they landed in the Bahamas, which Columbus mistakenly thought was the East Indies. Despite never realizing he had discovered a new world, Columbus's voyages paved the way for Spanish colonization in the Americas. His legacy is commemorated annually on Columbus Day.

What did Columbus name the natives he encountered?

What is commemorated every year on the second Monday in October?