Filipino American History Month was officially recognized nationally in October 2009 when Congress passed H. RES. 780. The month of October was chosen to commemorate the landing of the Nuestra Señora de Buena Esperanza in Morro Bay, California on October 18, 1587. This was the first documented Filipino presence in what is now the continental United States.
Dedication Plaque at Morro Bay.
FANHS Morro plaque.jpg by RightCowLeftCoast is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
In 1989, Congress designated October as Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month with Public Law 101-128. The month of October was chosen to coincide with Columbus Day on October 12th. (Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa, a city in present-day Italy. He arrived in the Americas on October 12, 1492.) Presidential proclamations have been issued on multiple occasions since that time to celebrate the heritage and contributions of Americans of Italian descent.
Hispanic Heritage Month began as a week-long celebration in 1968 when Congress passed Public Law 90-498. This legislation called on the President to annually proclaim the week of September 15th and 16th as National Hispanic Heritage Week. These dates were chosen because several Central American countries celebrate their independence days at this time. In 1988, S.2200 amended Public Law 90-498 to expand the celebration to a month-long observance. National Hispanic Heritage Month is now observed every year from September 15th to October 15th to celebrate the culture and contributions of Hispanic Americans.
Polish American Heritage Month was first celebrated nationally in August 1984 with a proclamation from President Ronald Reagan. The commemoration was moved to October in 1986. The first Polish immigrants came to Jamestown, Virginia, in the month of October. Additionally, October 11th is General Pulaski Memorial Day. General Casimir Pulaski was a Polish military commander who fought for the Americans during the American Revolution. He died from wounds suffered at the Siege of Savannah on October 11, 1779. General Pulaski Memorial Day was first celebrated in the 1920s, and many US presidents have issued proclamations commemorating the day since.
German-American Day is celebrated annually on October 6th to commemorate the founding of Germantown, Pennsylvania, by German immigrants on October 6, 1683. The celebration was first observed in 1883 on the 200th anniversary. In 1987, Congress approved Public Law 100-104, which designed October 6th as German-American Day. Since then, US presidents have made annual proclamations to celebrate the heritage and contributions of German Americans.
Leif Erikson Day is celebrated on October 9th. Leif Erikson was a Norse explorer who led an exploration of what is believed to be the first European presence in North America. The exact date of his exploration is unknown. October 9th was chosen to coincide with the arrival of the Restauration in New York harbor on October 9, 1825. This ship carried some of the first Norwegian immigrants to the United States. In 1964, Congress passed Public Law 88-566, which allowed the president to proclaim October 9th as Leif Erikson Day. Each year since, the US president has issued such a proclamation celebrating the heritage and contributions of Americans of Nordic descent.
US commemorative stamp issued on Leif Erikson Day, 1968.
Leif Erikson 6c 1968 issue.JPG by Bureau of Engraving and Printing is in the Public Domain.
Indigenous Peoples' Day is celebrated annually on the second Monday in October. It began as a counter-celebration to Columbus Day, which honors the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas on October 12, 1492. In 2021, President Joe Biden officially commemorated Indigenous Peoples' Day with a proclamation celebrating the history, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous American peoples.
