What is Leif Erikson Day?

Leif Erikson Day is observed annually on October 9 to honor Norse explorer Leif Erikson who reached North America around the year 1000, centuries before Christopher Columbus’s first voyage. The holiday is formally recognized in the U.S., and though it’s not a national public holiday in Nordic countries, Leif Erikson remains an important figure in Icelandic and Norse history.

Leif Erikson Day at a glance#

What is Leif Erikson Day?#

Leif Erikson Day is an October 9 holiday observed every year, primarily in the U.S., to honor the Norse explorer Leif Erikson as well as the overall contributions of Nordic communities.

The U.S. observance (also now recognized in Canada) developed over time:

• President Calvin Coolidge recognized Leif Erikson’s place in the history of European exploration of North America during the Norse-American Centennial in 1925.

• In 1935, Congress authorized the president to designate October 9 of that year as Leif Erikson Day.

• Then, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued the first presidential proclamation.

• Finally, in 1964, Congress authorized and requested the president to proclaim October 9 of each year as Leif Erikson Day.

Who was Leif Erikson?#

Leif Erikson (written sometimes as Leif Eiriksson or Leifur Eiríksson) was a Norse explorer and the son of Erik the Red, who established the first Norse settlements on Greenland. According to Norse sagas, Erikson sailed west from Greenland and reached land in North America around the year 1000.

Archaeology confirms that Norse people reached North America around 500 years before Columbus. At L’Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, archaeologists uncovered the remains of an approximately 1,000-year-old Norse settlement.

It’s said that Erikson named the first Viking settlement in modern-day Newfoundland “Vinland” after all the vines and grapes he saw covering the land. The settlement that he and his crew built enabled them to safely spend the winter in the undiscovered wilderness. As word of Erikson’s remarkable discovery spread, other Norse explorers made the journey to Vinland where the earlier settlement served as their base.

So, did Leif Erikson discover America before Columbus? It’s more accurate to say that Norse explorers reached North America well before Columbus did. But calling either Erikson or Columbus the person who “discovered America” overlooks the Indigenous peoples who had lived throughout the Americas for thousands of years before Europeans arrived.

What’s Leif Erikson Day all about, then? Even if Erikson didn’t “discover” America, his epic voyages are the stuff of centuries-old lore. Leif Erikson Day is more generally a commemoration of the contributions from Nordic people and communities across the continent.

Why is Leif Erikson Day celebrated on October 9th?#

On October 9, 1825, the Norwegian sloop named Restauration arrived in New York after sailing from Stavanger, Norway, with a large group of Norwegian immigrants. The voyage became an important milestone in the history of organized Norwegian immigration to the United States.

That connection illustrates how modern Leif Erikson Day proclamations celebrate more than Erikson’s voyage. They recognize Nordic-American heritage and the contributions of immigrants and descendants with roots in Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.

Leif Erikson Day: Iceland and Nordic heritage#

The modern October 9 observance is rooted primarily in the United States and Nordic-American immigration history, so it’s not an Icelandic holiday. Leif Erikson does, however, have great cultural significance in Iceland. He’s closely connected with Icelandic history and the wider Norse world, and Icelanders know him as Leifur Eiríksson or “Leif the Lucky.”

One of Reykjavík’s most recognizable monuments is the statue of Leif Erikson in front of Hallgrímskirkja Church. The monument is a visible reminder of Erikson’s place in Icelandic heritage.

If you’re wondering how someone should celebrate Leif Erikson Day, start by taking a tour of a Nordic heritage museum or by learning more about Norse culture, even right here in the Icewear blog.

Frequently asked questions about Leif Erikson Day#

When is Leif Erikson Day?#

Leif Erikson Day is observed on October 9 every year. This contrasts (and is sometimes confused) with Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which are both celebrated on the second Monday in October.

Did Leif Erikson reach America before Christopher Columbus?#

Yes. Norse explorers reached North America around A.D. 1000, nearly 500 years before Columbus’s 1492 voyage. Archaeological remains at L’Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland and Labrador confirm this early Norse presence in North America.

Why is Leif Erikson Day on October 9?#

The date is associated with Nordic-American immigration. The Norwegian immigrant ship named Restauration arrived in New York on October 9, 1825, and marked an important event in the history of Norwegian immigration to the U.S.

Is Leif Erikson Day celebrated in Iceland?#

October 9 is not an Icelandic national public holiday. However, Leif Erikson is an important figure in Icelandic history. His statue in central Reykjavík reflects that cultural significance.

This October 9th, celebrate Leif Erikson Day yourself, and remember the explorer credited with landing on an American shore over 1000 years ago.