Infographic by Liam Flenniken

On Saturday, Oct. 11, the Scandinavian American Cultural and Historical Foundation hosted its “Leif Erikson Celebration” at California Lutheran University, commemorating the 200-year anniversary of the first organized emigration from Norway to the United States, according to Cal Lutheran’s website. 

David Nelson, chair of the History Department at Cal Lutheran, said Leif Erikson Day has been recognized through a presidential proclamation annually since 1964.

“It is to memorialize the arrival of the first Europeans, led by Leif Erikson, to the shores of the Americas almost 500 years before Christopher Columbus, in about 1000 A.D.,” Nelson said.

“Since the actual date of Leif Erikson’s landing is unknown, October 9 was selected because it commemorates the arrival of the first ship of Norwegian immigrants on October 9, 1825, in New York City.”

The event opened with a short video from the 175th Anniversary celebration at Ellis Island, followed by a presentation by Fred Tonsing, Cal Lutheran professor emeritus, and a musical performance by Torkil Hammer on the nyckelharpa, a traditional Swedish string instrument. 

“Scandinavian-Americans’ role in U.S. history is not often considered. Scandinavian-Americans played an important role in the settlement of the Midwest in the 19th century,” Nelson said.  “Scandinavian-Americans have played various roles in U.S. culture, politics, and economy.”

Hammer, a Danish immigrant who’s lived in the Conejo Valley for almost 50 years, said he is happy that Cal Lutheran is celebrating Norwegian culture. 

“It’s not a well-known holiday here and it’s not a well-known holiday in Denmark,” Hammer said. “But I like Leif Erikson for taking the time to build that Norwegian settlement.” 

Tonsing said he is also looking forward to the Scandinavian Festival in the spring, another step he says the university takes in honoring its Scandinavian roots. 

“You have over four to six thousand people gathering from central California and from San Diego come here to hear the music, to dance, and to eat food, of course,” Tonsing said. 

Tonsing said he is saddened by the university’s decision to close the Scandinavian Center, saying it was a Danish preserve and that the center contained hundreds of artifacts. 

“Just these celebrations of different cultures and hearing many things. I’m always learning as a professor,” Tonsing said. “You’re not a good professor unless you learn every day, and learning about your parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents is a part of your life. It is important to learn about your heritage.”