October 9th marks Leif Erikson Day

Leif Erikson  is generally believed to be the first European to reach the North American continent.  He was son of Erik the Red, founder of the first European settlement on what is now called Greenland.  Around 1000 A.D., Erikson sailed to Norway where he was converted to Christianity by King Olaf I.  Losing his course returning to Greenland, Erikson landed on the North American Continent.  Due to the abundance of wild grapes that were growing there, he called it Vinland.  He spent time on Vinland and returned to Greenland.  He never made a return trip to North America.

The location of Vinland in North America has been debated over the centuries.  In the early 1960’s excavations at L’Anse aux Meadows, on the northernmost tip of Newfoundland, uncovered evidence of what is believed to be the base camp of the 11th century Viking exploration.

Upon Erik the Red’s death,  Leif took over the Greenland settlement.  He had two sons, Thorgils and Thorkel.  Thorkel became chief after his father’s death in 1025.

In the late 19th century many Nordic Americans celebrated Leif Erikson as the first European explorer of the New world.  In 1964, President Johnson declared October 9th as “Leif Erikson Day”.

DID YOU KNOW?

Down at the Minnesota State Capitol building in St. Paul, there is a statue of Leif Erikson.

Source: History.com