when is leif erikson day

Leif Erikson Day is observed annually on October 9. This date was chosen not because it is the exact date of Leif Erikson's arrival in North America (which is unknown), but to commemorate the arrival of the Norwegian ship Restauration to New York Harbor on October 9, 1825, carrying some of the first Norwegian immigrants to the United States. The day honors Leif Erikson, the Norse explorer believed to have led the first Europeans to set foot on North American soil around the year 1000 CE. The United States Congress authorized the President to proclaim October 9 as Leif Erikson Day starting in 1964, and it has since been proclaimed annually by sitting presidents to celebrate Nordic heritage and the spirit of exploration.