| Leif Erikson Day | |
|---|---|
 U.S. stamp issued on Leif Erikson Day, 1968 (featuring Reykjavík's statue of Leif) | |
| Observed by | United States, parts of Canada, and communities in the Nordic countries |
| Type | Cultural |
| Significance | Celebrating Leif Erikson as the first European to lead a voyage to North America |
| Date | October 9 |
| Next time | October 9, 2025 |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Related to | Leif Erikson |
Leif Erikson Day is an annual observance that occurs on October 9.[1] It honors Leif Erikson (Old Norse: Leifr Eiríksson),[note 1] the Norse explorer who, in approximately 1000, led the first Europeans believed to have set foot on the continent of North America (other than Greenland).[2]
Because the exact date of Leif's arrival to the Americas is unknown, the October 9 date was chosen in commemoration of the Restauration's arrival to New York Harbor, carrying some of the first Norwegian immigrants to the United States. This means the holiday occurs before Columbus Day (although it is sometimes coincident with the US' observation of Columbus Day).[3]
- ^ "Why Do We Celebrate Columbus Day and Not Leif Erikson Day?". National Geographic. October 11, 2015. Archived from the original on August 7, 2019. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
- ^ "History – Leif Erikson (11th century)". BBC. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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