St. Urho’s Day reportedly began in the mid-1950s in Virginia, Minn. Oral tradition relates that some Irish-Americans were bragging during a St. Patrick’s Day celebration and Richard Mattson, manager of the local Finnish-American-owned department store, Ketola's, suddenly proclaimed that Finland also had a patron saint who rid that country of pests the day before, March 16.
The story says that, many years ago, there were wild grapes growing all over Finland. One season, grasshoppers with a voracious appetite arrived and began to destroy the vineyards. St. Urho, waving his pitchfork, chanted "Heinasirkka, heinasirkka, menetaalta hiiten" ("Grasshopper, grasshopper, get out!") and the pesky creatures went away.
Those who celebrate the day do not seem to care if the story is reality or fiction. The celebration gives everyone an excuse for a two-day celebration during long, cold winters. In honor of the Finnish and Irish traditions, the official colors for St. Urho’s Day are purple and green.
1 comment:
Damn Fins.
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