Abolishing Columbus Day has been a topic of debate in the United States since the 19th century. The day was established as a federal holiday in 1971, though it has been recognized by various organizations since the 1790s. Contentions with Columbus Day regard its reverence for the actions of explorer Christopher Columbus, who terrorized the Indigenous people living on the islands he “discovered.”

Columbus Day is a divisive holiday that 130 communities and over a dozen states have abandoned, but there is a way to still have a federal holiday and a day off without glorifying genocide against Indigenous peoples: instate Super Bowl Monday as a national holiday.

The National Football League’s presentation of the Super Bowl is one of the greatest annual spectacles in the U.S. Billions of dollars are spent on food, apparel and decorations for the game with millions crowding around their televisions.
16 million Americans were expected to skip work the day after the Super Bowl, with an additional 8 million taking the day off in advance. 40% of those who call out from work cite fatigue and 34% say they drank too much.

It only makes sense to commemorate the contributions of Indigenous people in the U.S. and replace the archaic holiday with one that has always brought people together; 113.1 million Americans tuned in to watch Super Bowl LVII, making it the second most-watched game of all time, and an additional 103.5 million people planned to host or attend a party.

Whether you watch for the halftime show, the commercials or the game itself, Super Bowl Sunday serves as a time to get together with friends and family. The unity of American citizens is what the government should be supporting, not their division.