Leif Eriksson Day

Happy Leif Eriksson Day! The Viking being celebrated today is recognized to be the first Norwegian explorer to reach the United States. He is said to have arrived in 1001 AD which is about 500 years before Christopher Columbus arrived! It was not until 1964 that Leif Eriksson had a day dedicated to him nationwide. Lyndon B. Johnson was the president who proclaimed October 9 to be Leif Eriksson Day. As somewhat of an uncommonly known holiday, a very memorable episode of SpongeBob Squarepants was created to inform audiences who he was and why he is celebrated. Check out the short clip from that episode below!

Citations: http://www.mnc.net/norway/LeifErikson.htm
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YqehGlg6m8