Boston's Columbus Day Parade in 1971 depicted through stunning vintage photographs.

   
Columbus Day is a national holiday in many countries of the Americas and elsewhere, and a federal holiday in the United States, which officially celebrates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492.
 
 
Columbus Day parade in Boston, Massachusetts in October 1971
 
The landing is celebrated as Columbus Day in the United States, but the name varies internationally. The Dominican Republic celebrates this day as “The Discovery of the Americas”. In some Latin American countries, October 12 is known as Día de la Raza or “Day of the Race”. This is the case for Mexico, which inspired Jose Vasconcelos’ book celebrating the Day of the Iberoamerican race. Some countries such as Spain refer to the holiday as Día de la Hispanidad and Fiesta Nacional de España, where it coincides with the religious festivity of La Virgen del Pilar.
 
Since 2009, Peru has celebrated Día de los pueblos originarios y el diálogo intercultural (“Indigenous Peoples and Intercultural Dialogue Day”). Belize and Uruguay celebrate it as Pan American Day and Día de las Américas (“Day of the Americas”). Giornata Nazionale di Cristoforo Colombo or Festa Nazionale di Cristoforo Colombo is the formal name of the celebration in Italy as well as in Little Italys around the world.
 
These amazing photos were taken by Nick Dewolf that show Columbus Day parade in Boston, Massachusetts in October 1971.
 
 
"Wake Up America" dune buggy, Columbus Day parade, Boston, Massachusetts, 1971

 
"Wake Up America", Columbus Day parade, Boston, Massachusetts, 1971

 
Along the parade route, Columbus Day parade, Boston, Massachusetts, 1971

 
Baton twirlers, Boston College marching band, Columbus Day parade, Boston, Massachusetts, 1971

 
Baton twirlers, Boston College marching band, Columbus Day parade, Boston, Massachusetts, 1971

 
Children in the crowd, Columbus Day parade, Boston, Massachusetts, 1971

 
Children in the crowd, Columbus Day parade, Boston, Massachusetts, 1971

 
Columbus Day parade in North End, Boston, Massachusetts, 1971

 
Columbus Day parade, Boston, Massachusetts, 1971

 
Columbus Day parade, Boston, Massachusetts, 1971

 
Corner of Endicott and Stillman Streets, Columbus Day parade, Boston, Massachusetts, 1971

 
Dancer with tambourine, Columbus Day parade, Boston, Massachusetts, 1971

 
Dancer with tambourine, Columbus Day parade, Boston, Massachusetts, 1971

 
Dixieland band, Columbus Day parade, Boston, Massachusetts, 1971

 
Faces in the crowd, Columbus Day parade, Boston, Massachusetts, 1971

 
Faces in the crowd, Columbus Day parade, Boston, Massachusetts, 1971

 
Faces in the crowd, Columbus Day parade, Boston, Massachusetts, 1971

 
Faces in the crowd, Columbus Day parade, Boston, Massachusetts, 1971

 
Faces in the crowd, Columbus Day parade, Boston, Massachusetts, 1971

 
Joseph F. Timilty, Boston City Council, Boston, Massachusetts, October 1971

 
Marching band, Columbus Day parade, Boston, Massachusetts, 1971

 
Protest sign, Columbus Day parade, Boston, Massachusetts, 1971

 
Spectators lining parade route, Columbus Day parade, Boston, Massachusetts, 1971

 
Spectators lining parade route, Columbus Day parade, Boston, Massachusetts, 1971

 
Spectators, Columbus Day parade, Boston, Massachusetts, 1971

 
Spectators, Columbus Day parade, Boston, Massachusetts, 1971


 
Spectators, Columbus Day parade, Boston, Massachusetts, 1971

 
Street vendor, Columbus Day parade, Boston, Massachusetts, 1971

(Photo © Nick Dewolf)