Happy Erikson Day, or Happy Columbus Day, or Whatever

 

Leif Erikson

“In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue”. Most Americans know this saying as it is taught in grade school. Most Americans also know when Columbus Day is as it is a holiday. And most Americans understand that Columbus discovered America.

This Monday, Oct. 14^th, is Columbus Day. Last Wednesday, Oct. 9^th, was Leif Erikson Day. What, who is Leif Erikson? Well, Leif Erikson actually was the first European to set foot in North America almost 500 years before Columbus.

It doesn’t matter to Pops who gets credit as Pops is both Danish and Italian. Either way Pops can say his ancestors discovered America.

Pops has a few ideas –

1.     Let them share the honor. In the modern era of hyphenated names why not have an Erikson-Columbus Day.

2.     Since Erikson landed in Newfoundland let him have Canada and Columbus the USA.

3.     Pops has been to Limon, Costa Rica and saw a statue of Columbus lauding the fact that he landed in Central America on one of his voyages. Give Columbus Central America and Erikson North America.

4.     Or, better yet, give the honor to the explorer and immigrant that was brave enough to walk across the frozen sea between Russia and Alaska to first step foot on North America.

But then, what would we call it …

Pops may not always have all the answers but Pops wants you to ponder the question.