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Herenin the U.S., and in other places in the world such as Ireland,ntomorrow, March 17th, is a popular holiday (or feast day)nfor St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. People wear green, eatncorned beef, drink green beer, and even (at times) dye rivers green.
Herenin the U.S., and in other places in the world such as Ireland,ntomorrow, March 17th, is a popular holiday (or feast day)nfor St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. People wear green, eatncorned beef, drink green beer, and even (at times) dye rivers green.n
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nApparentlynsome Finnish Americans living in Northern Minnesota got a bit jealousnof all the fun Irish Americans had, and decided to celebrate theirnpatron saint the day before St. Patty’s Day. Unfortunately, therenwasn’t a convenient patron saint to honor, so the Minnesota folksnmade one up.
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nAndnso was born St. Urho, the legendary patron saint of Finland.
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Therenreally was a St. Patrick, although some of the stories told about himnare surely fiction / legend. For example, the fact that there are nonsnakes in Ireland has more to do with the fact that Ireland is annisland, like the snake-free islands of New Zealand and Iceland, thannfrom the story that St. Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland.nBut the inventors of St. Urho were inspired by the snake-riddingnlegend to create a similar story for their hero: St. Urho was said tonhave saved the grape crop in Finland by chasing the grasshoppers outnof ancient Finland by saying something like, “Grasshopper,ngrasshopper, get out of here.” n
Therenreally was a St. Patrick, although some of the stories told about himnare surely fiction / legend. For example, the fact that there are nonsnakes in Ireland has more to do with the fact that Ireland is annisland, like the snake-free islands of New Zealand and Iceland, thannfrom the story that St. Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland.nBut the inventors of St. Urho were inspired by the snake-riddingnlegend to create a similar story for their hero: St. Urho was said tonhave saved the grape crop in Finland by chasing the grasshoppers outnof ancient Finland by saying something like, “Grasshopper,ngrasshopper, get out of here.” nn
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n(Notenthat, although Ireland really does lack snakes, Finland still hasngrasshoppers. So St. Patrick drove away the snakes for all eternity,nbut St. Urho presumably just saved the one crop. It was a one-offnmiracle, I guess!)
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nSt.nUrho and his day have traditional colors, too—purple and green.nPurple stands for the grapes, and green stands for the grasshoppersnthat were driven away and also for the vines. Oh, sorry, I should benmore exact: today’s colors are royal purple and Nilengreen.
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St.nUrho Day was created, not in ancient or medieval times, but in then1950s. I’m not positive it’s true that Finns and Finnish Americansncelebrate the day by chanting St. Urho’s anti-grasshopper charm whilenwalking in procession, kicking and waving pitchforks to scare offngrasshoppers. But I definitely believe that people celebrate bynsinging, dancing polkas, and drinking wine and grape juice. Antraditional food for St. Urho Day is fish soup.
St.nUrho Day was created, not in ancient or medieval times, but in then1950s. I’m not positive it’s true that Finns and Finnish Americansncelebrate the day by chanting St. Urho’s anti-grasshopper charm whilenwalking in procession, kicking and waving pitchforks to scare offngrasshoppers. But I definitely believe that people celebrate bynsinging, dancing polkas, and drinking wine and grape juice. Antraditional food for St. Urho Day is fish soup.n
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nAlsonon this date:
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nAnniversary of the greatest rainfall in 24 hours
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nFreedom of Information Day
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