"Leif the Lucky" as he was nicknamed, wasn't so lucky after all. He was the first European to set foot on North America, but he seldom gets credit for his accomplishment. The glory usually goes to Christopher Columbus who landed almost 500 years later.
Leif was born in Iceland about 975 AD, the son of Eric the Red, a Viking explorer. At the age of eight, following Viking tradition, he moved in with a man named Thyrker.
Eric had captured Thyrker in Germany, brought him back to Iceland, but Leif's father had not enslaved his captive. Perhaps he realized that Thyrker would be a valuable tutor for the young Leif. And so he proved to be.
Thyrker taught Leif how to read and write runes, the Celtic and Russian languages, the ways of trade, plant studies and the use of various weapons. The boy loved to hear Thyrker repeat the old Norse sagas, and to listen to the sailors' tales when they visited the harbor.
When he was twelve, Leif was considered a man and returned home, but his stay was brief. Shortly after his return, his father killed a man with whom he had been feuding. and Eric was banished from Iceland for three years.
The Viking took his family, some slaves and supplies and sailed west. In a few days they reached Greenland and set up camp. On this voyage, Leif learned valuable skills for deep-sea sailing. The little group reached Greenland and set up camp.
Eventually, other Icelandic settlers joined them and a colony was established.
One day, Leif heard a returning sailor, Bjarni Herjolfsson, tell a strange tale of being blown off course on his way home, and sighting a land covered with many trees. Bjarni had not stopped because he was anxious to get back to Greenland.
At the age of 24, Leif captained his first ship. He sailed to Norway to bring gifts to King Olaf. During his visit he was converted to Christianity and when he returned home he brought along a priest to spread the Christian faith in Greenland.
After a short time back home, Leif became restless and decided to try to find the lands to the west of which Bjarni had spoken.
He left the west coast of Greenland and sailed west for about 600 miles. He was disappointed at his first discovery: the land resembled a huge slab of rock. He named it Helluland, (Flat Rock Land). It is thought that he landed on Baffin Island.
He then sailed south and found another land. It was flat, with white beaches and there were some trees. He named this land Markland (Woodland). It is believed that this was Canada's east coast.
Another two-day journey to the southeast, brought him to an island with the mainland behind it. The soil was rich, and the dew on the grass seemed as sweet as honey. There were green forests, fine pasture lands, and they caught salmon larger than the Vikings had ever seen. They even found grapes growing on the land.
They decided to build shelters and stay for the winter. During the winter, there was no frost and they were surprised to find that the days and nights were about equal in length. Farther north, the nights were much longer.
In Spring, before the men left, Leif named the land Vinland ( (Wineland or Pastureland). He was at the spot now known as L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland.
Surprisingly, only one small group of settlers tried to return to Vinland and they were killed by Indians. Consequently, Europe remained unaware of the existence of the New World for another five hundred years.
Leif Ericson later inherited his father's position as leader of the Norse colony in Greenland. He died there about 1020 AD. Most of the information about him is found in the old Norse sagas.
In 1963, Viking ruins were found at L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland.
In 1964, President Lyndon B Johnson of the United States proclaimed October 9 as "Leif Ericson Day" as a tribute to the man who brought the first Europeans to North America. The occasion also honors the spirit of discovery, and the contributions of Americans of Nordic descent generally.
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