What is 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.
