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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 ).
Leif was the son of Erik the Red and his wife Thjodhild (Old Norse: Þjóðhildur), and, through his paternal line, the grandson of Thorvald Ásvaldsson.When Erik the Red was young, his father was banished from Norway for manslaughter, and the family went into exile in Iceland (which, during the century preceding Leif's birth, had been colonized by Norsemen, mainly from Norway).
The date of Leif Erikson Day in the United States was chosen to coincide with the day Restauration arrived in New York Harbor: October 9. [7] In preparation for the 2025 Bicentennial of the ship's voyage, a replica of the Restauration was built at Jørn Flesjå's small wooden shipyard at Finnøy in Ryfylke, Norway. [8]
However, as Erik attempted to join his son Leif on the voyage towards these new lands, he fell off his horse as it slipped on the wet rocks near the shore; thus he was injured and stayed behind. [11] Sometime around AD 1000, Leif spent the winter, when one day his foster father Tyrker found what the saga describes as "wine-berries."
Calder's statue is an iconic image of Leif, and has been used extensively to illustrate the explorer in various media, on souvenirs, stamps, coins, and so forth. On Leif Erikson Day 1938, Iceland's postal service released three Leif Erikson themed stamps, two of which featured images of the statue in Reykjavík. [21]
Here's a list of all the October 2024 national holidays and observances, like Halloween, International Coffee Day, World Smile Day and many more fun holidays.
Rasmus Bjørn Anderson signature. Rasmus Bjørn Anderson (January 12, 1846 – March 2, 1936) was an American author, professor, editor, businessman and diplomat. He brought to popular attention the fact that Viking explorers were the first Europeans to arrive in the New World and was the originator of Leif Erikson Day.
The bronze Leif Erikson statue, designed by University of Washington music professor August Werner (1893-1980), was unveiled June 17, 1962. [7] Since 1963, maritime charts have noted the statue as a navigational landmark. [6] Seattle's Scandinavian-American community had celebrated Leif Erikson Day annually on October 9 beginning in 1941.