Leif Erikson Day in United States ― Date, History, and Details
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History of Leif Erikson Day in United States and How to Celebrate/ Observe It
Leif Erikson Day is a national holiday in the United States that commemorates the Norse explorer Leif Erikson. It is celebrated on October 9, the date of Erikson’s birth. Leif Erikson was the first European to set foot on what is now North America. He is believed to have landed in present-day Newfoundland in Canada around 1000 AD.
Leif Erikson Day was first celebrated in 1929, when it was proclaimed by President Calvin Coolidge. It is not a federal holiday, but many states and cities celebrate it with parades and other events. In Minnesota, where Erikson was born, the day is a state holiday.
Leif Erikson Day is also celebrated in Canada, Iceland, and Norway. In Canada, it is known as Discovery Day and is celebrated on the second Monday in October.