What significance is there for celebrating Leif Erikson Day on October 9?
Leif Erikson Day honors a viking explorer known as Leif Erikson. He is believed to be the first recorded Nordic person to have visited the area that is now the United States. It is believed that he visited Baffin Island and Labrador around 1000 CE. Leif Erikson Day Leif Erikson Day honors the first Scandinavian to set foot on American soil. ©iStockphoto.com/LukአHejtman What do people do? The president of the United States issues a proclamation about the holiday. Many US presidents have, in the past, publicly praised the spirit of exploration and discovery, as well the contributions of people with a Nordic background and their culture. Public life Leif Erikson Day is and observance and not a federal public holiday in the United States. Public transit systems run on their regular schedules. Background Leif Erikson was born of Norwegian descent around 970 CE in Iceland. It is thought that his father and grandfather were outlaws and explorers around Scandinavia and Greenland. His father
