While most people are gearing up for or already reveling in the festivities of St. Patrick's Day on March 17th, we're here to shine a spotlight on the St. Patrick's day eve... March 16th and a lesser-known Scandinavian holiday that's equally deserving of attention and celebration—St. Urho's Day! This quirky holiday, born in the hearts of Finnish-Americans, offers a blend of cultural pride, a dash of humor, and a whole lot of whimsy.
"The name "Urho" is believed to be a nod to Urho Kekkonen, who became the president of Finland the same year"
History and Origin:
The legend of St. Urho is not the product of one person but many. Traced back to Virginia, Minnesota, the holiday was created in 1956 by Richard Mattson. Inspired by St. Patrick's Day, Mattson conjured up a Finnish saint who drove a plague of grasshoppers out of Finland, a playful counterpart to St. Patrick driving the snakes out of Ireland. The name "Urho" is believed to be a nod to Urho Kekkonen, who became the president of Finland the same year.
Dr. Sulo Havumäki, a psychology professor at Bemidji State College in Minnesota, later modified the story, cementing the grasshopper detail and highlighting how they threatened Finland's grape crops. Thus, St. Urho became the Patron Saint of Finnish Vineyard Workers. The legend spread across Finnish-American communities and even reached Finland, where a pub in Helsinki is named after St. Urho.
Dr. Sulo Havumäki, a psychology professor at Bemidji State College in Minnesota, later modified the story, cementing the grasshopper detail and highlighting how they threatened Finland's grape crops. Thus, St. Urho became the Patron Saint of Finnish Vineyard Workers. The legend spread across Finnish-American communities and even reached Finland, where a pub in Helsinki is named after St. Urho.
The Confusion and Variations:
The origin story of St. Urho's Day has many contributors, making it delightfully confusing and charming. While Richard Mattson and Dr. Sulo Havumäki are often credited with creating and evolving the legend, revered WCCO and KSTP radio personality Steve Cannan also helped embellish and spread the story. This blend of contributions adds to the charm and quirkiness of the holiday.
A Proclamation in Verse: The Ode to Saint Urho
The original hand-written poem, "A Ode to Saint Urho," was phonetically written to sound as if spoken with a heavy Finnish accent. This poem, scribed in the mid-1950s by Gene McCavic and inspired by Richard Mattson, has been carefully preserved and archived at the Minnesota Discovery Centre in Chisholm. Mattson's collaborator, Gene McCavic, captured Urho's heroic deed in "Finnglish," making it best enjoyed when read aloud.
Original Finnish Version
Ooksi kooksi coolama vee
Santia Urho is ta poy for me!
He sase out ta hoppers as pig as pirds.
Neffer peefor haff I hurd tose words!
He reely tolt tose pugs of kreen
Braffest Finn I effer seen
Some celebrate for St. Pat unt hiss nakes
Putt Urho poyka kot what it takes.
He kot tall and trong from feelia sour
Unt ate kala moyakka effery hour.
Tat's why tat kuy could sase toes peetles
What krew as thick as chack bine neetles.
So let's give a cheer in hower pest vay
English Translation
Ooksi kooksi coolama vee [1,2,3,4,5]
Saint Urho is the boy for me!
He chased out the hoppers as big as birds
Never before have I heard those words!
He really told those bugs of green
Bravest Finn I ever seen
Some celebrate for St. Pat and his snakes
But Urho poika (boy) got what it takes
He got strong and tall from viili sour
And ate kalamojakka (fish soup) every hour
That's why that guy could chase those beetles
What grew as thick as jack pine needles
So lets give a cheer in our best way
On the sixteenth of March, St. Urho's Day.
Evolution of the Legend:
Originally, St. Urho was said to have killed all the frogs in Finland, but this evolved to chasing away grasshoppers. The original poem made no mention of grapes, but later, Richard Mattson elaborated on the idea of poisonous frogs contaminating the grape crops during the ice age. The date of celebration also changed from May 24 to March 16, aligning it just before St. Patrick's Day.
Political Parallels:
Given the post-WWII political climate, one cannot help but make a parallel between St. Urho and Finland’s President Urho Kekkonen, who was known for maintaining neutral relations with the Soviet Union—a potential swarm of locusts that could have easily invaded the smaller Finnish country.
Statues in honor of St. Urho:
St. Urho's legacy is immortalized in several statues across different locations. In Kaleva, Michigan, a whimsical grasshopper statue stands proudly, celebrating the legendary feat. Meanwhile, in Minnesota, statues of St. Urho can be found in Menahga and Finland, depicting him heroically spearing a grasshopper. These statues serve as reminders of the playful and enduring spirit of the holiday.
Celebrations:
"People dress in royal purple and Nile green, representing the grapes and grasshoppers respectively."
St. Urho's Day is celebrated with much enthusiasm, especially in Finnish-American communities. People dress in royal purple and Nile green, representing the grapes and grasshoppers respectively. Parades, feasts, and grape stomping are common activities. Some communities even crown a "Miss St. Urho" to lead the festivities. The humor and joy that characterize these celebrations reflect the playful spirit of the holiday.
Ways to Celebrate:
Wear green or purple—both is better!
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Attend a local celebration around the USA, like those in Finland or Menahga, MN, which offer events for everyone.
Finland, MN St. Urho's Celebration - celebrating 50 years of the St. Urho Festival in 2025
Don a commemorative button or sticker on March 16th.
Celebrate with a favorite beverage and toast to Saint Urho.
Eat Finnish fish soup to become strong and hearty like the patron saint.
Learn one of the many songs, odes, or ballads written about St. Urho’s Day.
St. Urho's Day is more than just a holiday; it’s a celebration of creativity, community, and cultural pride. Whether you’re donning purple and green or simply sharing the tale, this quirky holiday offers a delightful way to embrace a bit of Finnish-American heritage.
Some Finnish Favorites
Content & Image Sources: Friends of Finland Community, Ingebretsens, St. Urho Website, in the meantime, Northern Wilds, SDPB, TBnewswatch, wikipedia, focusing on travel, roadside architecture