Hi
The following should answer the Col
Umbia - Col
Ombia spelling differences.
Quote:
From Google Answers:
... the name Colombia has its origin in the name of the explorer who
discovered America, Christopher Columbus (Cristóbal Colón in
Spanish, Cristoforo Colombo in Italian):
"Colombia's name references the explorer Christopher Columbus. The
name was conceived by the revolutionary Francisco de Miranda as a
reference to the New World, especially to all American territories
and colonies under Spanish and Portuguese rule. The name originally
belonged to a short-lived republic consisting of present-day
Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama (see Great Colombia)
[ed: in Spanish: Gran Colombia]. This republic collapsed in 1830 when
Venezuela and Ecuador separated, and the Cundinamarca region which
remained became a new country, the Republic of New Granada. In 1863
New Granada changed its name officially to United States of
Colombia, and in 1886 adopted its present day name: Republic of
Colombia."
So instead of celebrating Columbus Day, we should be celebrating
Colon Day.
The reason I collect Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela is that they were once a republic. Panama was a Colombian state until 1905. The United States helped the Panamanians gain independence from Colombia because we, the US, needed the isthmus for the Panama Canal and Colombia did not want to make any concessions. I consider the pre 1905 Panama period as part ofmy Colombian states.
Jerry B
Posted 08/22/2011 3:27 pm
