Advice On Leif Erikson Day
posted on 10/05/2009
Did you know that October 9 is Leif Erikson Day? Isn't that wacky? It's an odd holiday that must be created by Presidential proclamation every year. That's right. Each and every president since Lyndon B. Johnson, no matter how dire the state of the economy or world peace, took some time out each October 9 to commemorate the great contributions that Leif Erikson made to America. And if it's good enough for a president, it's good enough for you, so throw a party to celebrate the Nordic peoples!
Like many ethnic celebrations, such as Oktoberfest, St. Patrick's Day, or the Puerto Rican Day Parade, finding a closely-associated, alcoholic beverage is key. Aquavit, a spirit distilled from grain or potatoes and flavored with caraway seeds, is popular throughout Scandinavia. In Norwegian, it is known as Akevitt. It contains forty percent alcohol by volume so you can be certain to have a great Leif Erikson Day. Typically, it is drunk in small glasses filled so fully that you must bow your head for the first sip. If for some reason you can't find Aquavit, then Svedka or Absolut vodka will do in a pinch. Just make sure to have a lot and follow it with some beer. Ringnes is the most popular brand in Norway.
While the Aquavit will lessen its importance, Vikings can also eat a lot. Typical of Norwegian cuisine is smoked fish. Serve them simply with some boiled, buttered potatoes or some rye bread. Pickled herring is also very popular and can be served similarly or with beets. Smoked moose is another Norwegian favorite, although it is not widely available in the US.
Now that you've tried some of your Aquavit and pickled herring, you will need some Viking costumes. Sure, you could go to the costume store and find some cheap plastic get-up, but is that really in the spirit of the Vikings? Would Leif Erikson have headed on down to PartyTown at the strip mall and bought a plastic sword? No! Be resourceful and make your own Viking helmet. Just get some tin foil and form it around your head. Add some horns for authenticity. If you're a Lady Viking, you could make some braids out of some yellow yarn. If you're really serious about this, you could always go to the fabric store and get some faux fur… or you could borrow your grandmother's fur coat. Vikings are a tough bunch so some fierce yelling should provide all of the ambiance you need. With those three simple elements, food, drink, and costume, you're ready to celebrate a real, authentic Leif Erikson day!
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