I don't think it's accurate to say that "Friendship Day" is commonly known as "Columbus Day". One really has nothing to do with the other with the exception that they are both celebrated on the same day (2nd Monday in October).

I can't tell you much except to say that the holiday was created in 1964 in order to foster goodwill between Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Richard N. Kurpiers

Also, many in the Virgin Islands don't believe in celebrating Columbus Day, since his so-called "discovery" led to the systematic decimation of indigenous groups in the present-day West Indies.

I believe there are PR-VI celebrations on St. Croix every year, I do not know about 2005, though. I suggest you Google it if you haven't already, but I'm not sure if you'd find anything.

Hello,

There are events planned for this month for Hispanic Heritage and VI-PR Friendship day on St. Croix. You can find them in the events calendar on this site. (Its under General Info - Local Events in the drop down menu at the top of this page.)

--Islander