National Leif Erikson Day

National Leif Erikson Day:

The National Leif Erikson day, which takes place on October 9, is an annual celebration that is observed in Canada, United States, and the Nordic Council nations. This day is celebrated as an honor to Leif Erikson, an explorer who led the first European voyage into North America.

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Related: Other National Days Celebrated on October 9th:

National Moldy Cheese Day

National Pro-Life Cupcake Day

Why National Leif Erikson Day?

The National Leif Erikson Day celebrates the Norwegian explorer Leif Erikson. He was a Norse explorer who brought the first Europeans to North America. The voyage that was led by Leif Erikson departed from Europe in 999 and reached North American in 1000. The reason why Leif’s exploration of North America was a notable accomplishment was that it revealed a new wealthy land where the Vikings could explore. Observing the holiday also shows appreciation to Norwegian explorers for the role they played in discovering America.

How Can we Celebrate National Leif Erikson Day:

Some of the activities that one can engage in as part of the celebration this day include the following:

• Learn and explore the Norwegian Culture

There are many things that one can learn and explore about the Norwegian culture. Because of the role the Norwegians played in discovering America, you can show your appreciation by learning a thing or two about their culture. You can read some books written by Norwegian authors or enjoy art pieces that have been created by some of their best artists. There are many films rooted in the Norwegian culture that you can also watch on this day. If you do not enjoy art, books, or films, you can always opt to try Norwegian cuisines. Their cuisines mainly involve seafood, cheese, and bread.

• Plan to go to a Norwegian Heritage Museum

If you are not a fan of trying out new foods, reading, and watching films, you can choose to visit a museum that displays a rich Norwegian Heritage. In the United States, there are many museums that have preserved the Norwegian culture, including the Vesterheim Museum in Iowa, the Scandinavian Heritage Museum in Brooklyn, and the National Nordic Museum in Seattle. You can also research if there is a Norwegian Heritage Centre that is close to you and spends your day learning about their exploration adventures. Some of these museums even hold festivals that commemorate Norwegian culture and customs.

• Research about Norwegian history

You can also observe the National Leif Erikson Day by learning more about the Norwegian explorers and their accomplishments. Most of their voyages have been documented in books and biographies. You will also find films and documentaries that highlight the journey of Leif Erikson and his successes as an explorer. Some of these research materials can be found online, while some can only be found at the library. Learning about the History of Norway and the Norwegian explorers will not only be a way of celebrating Leif Erikson’s role in discovering America but also enable you to learn more about Scandinavian Countries and their way of life.

Use the hashtags #NationalLeifEriksonDay and #LeifEriksonDay to share your Celebration.

Interesting Facts about National Leif Erikson Day:

• A lot of controversy lies around how to correctly spell and write ‘Leif Erikson’s name. The correct Norwegian spelling of his name is Leifr, and the Norwegian pronunciation is also different. Biography writers also go with alternate spellings for his second name, including Ericson, Eriksson, and Erikson.
• The sitting American President has to make a proclamation annually on Leif Erikson Day as a way of honoring the Scandinavian nationals who live in the country. This customary tradition began in 1964.
• The National Leif Erikson Day comes a few days after Columbus Day, and this makes people confused about who set foot first in America. History, however, shows that Erikson was the first European to go to America.

History of National Leif Erikson Day:

When the book ‘America Not Discovered by Columbus’ was published in 1874, historians began research into the theory that Leif was the first European in America, and this was later ascertained in 1960. In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge recognized Erikson as the one who discovered America. The first state in the US to recognize Leif Erikson Day as a holiday was Wisconsin in 1929. Other states followed suit, and by 1956, seven states had declared Leif Erikson Day a state holiday. In 1964, Congress passed a motion for a sitting president to recognize this holiday through a proclamation, which has been the case each year.