COLUMBUS DAY (United States)
Today is Columbus Day in the United States commemorating 
the arrival of Christopher Columbus to the Americas. The first celebration took place in New York for the 300th anniversary of the "Discovery of America." President Benjamin Harris in 1892 called on Americans to celebrate the 400th anniversary.
Columbus Day first became an official federal holiday (a bank holiday) in 1934 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt which was set on October 12. In 1971, the date was changed to the second Monday in October coinciding with Canada's Thanksgiving Day.
Since the 1990's, some Native American groups have protested this day due to the cruelty inflicted by Columbus and other Europeans on the indigenous peoples of the Americas.
THANKSGIVING DAY (Canada)
Canada is celebrating their Thanksgiving Day which is always celebrated on the second Monday of October. Canada's Thanksgiving dates back to 1578 when English explorer Sir Martin Frobischer sailed to the New World looking for a passage to the Orient. After the long journey across the ocean, he held a formal ceremony in what is today the province of Newfoundland and Labrador giving thanks for their survival. Frobischer's celebration is considered the first thanksgiving feast held in the New World. Other days of thanksgiving have been celebrated throughout Canada's history. Starting in 1879, Thanksgiving was celebrated every year but at different dates according to proclamation. After World War I and until 1956, Thanksgiving was held on the same week of November 11 (Armistice Day). In 1957, the Canadian Parliament officially changed the date to the second Monday of October.
Vocabulary
protest - manifester, protester
inflicted on - infligé à
to sail - traverser en bateau
journey - voyage
to hold a ceremony (irregular past form - held)- célébrer
to give thanks - remercier
survival - la survie
feast - festin, fête
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