National Leif Erikson Day
Tour a Norwegian heritage museum on tour. Learn about Norse roots, their discovery, and more. Dive into the tale of this discovery in books as well. We suggest Who was Leif Erikson by Nico Medina or Before Columbus: Elizabeth Cody Kimmel's Leif Erikson Expedition We suggest Who was Leif Erikson by Nico Medina or Before Columbus: The Leif Erikson Expedition Share your Norse roots. However you celebrate, use #LeifEriksonDay to post on social media.
History of erikson day has influenced national leif erikson day
President Calvin Coolidge honoured Leif Erikson as the discoverer of America in 1925, at the Norse-American Centennial, thanks to Norwegian-American scholars such as Knut Geirset and Ludvig-Hektoen.
Representative John Blatnik of Duluth introduced a bill in 1963 to commemorate Leif Erikson Day around the world. The United States Congress passed Joint Resolution 88-566 on September 2, 1964, authorizing the President to name October 9 as Leif Erikson Day. President Lyndon B. Johnson and each president since have served as presidents. The Presidents have lauded the contributions of Americans of Nordic descent generally and the spirit of discovery in the proclamations.
National Leif Erikson Day is officially recognized in some states in lieu of the federal observance. This occurs in the Upper Midwest, where large numbers of people from the Nordic countries settled are concentrated.
Restauration, a sloop with 52 Norwegian Quakers on board, landed in New York Harbor on October 9, 1825, beginning what would be the first organized migration from Norway to the United States. Congress selected October 9 for National Leif Erickson Day in honor of their journey and their finding ancestor.
Leif erikson FAQ
Was Leif Erikson Norse?
A. Although the first-century explorer is believed to have been born in Iceland, his ancestors hailed from Scandinavia, so he was of Norse descent. Erik the Red, Erik the Red's father, was born in Norway.
Does Norse, Nordic, and Norwegian mean the same thing?
A. Yes and no. Norse refers to people and things from Scandinavia. Nordic refers to northern Europe. The Norwegian is specific to Norway, Norway. So, something Norwegian can also be Nordic and Norse.
Q. What countries does Scandinavia refer to?
A. Scandinavia typically includes Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. A. Scandinavia is a magazine published in Scandinavia.
October 9 is the national leif erikson day in the United States
Leif Erikson, the Icelandic-born explorer, is honored on National Leif Erickson Day in honor of the Icelandic-born explorer. The Norse explorer receives praise for bringing the first Europeans known to have set foot in North America. Leif Erikson left the European continent in 999 and landed in North America around the year 1,000.
