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Celebrating St Urho: American Finns take on St Patrick | Celebrating St Urho: American Finns take on St Patrick |
(35 minutes later) | |
St Patrick's Day is 17 March, of course. But it's not just the Irish who throw a party this time of year. Across the US, small groups of Finnish Americans are celebrating St Urho's Day, which falls on 16 March. | |
At the main junction in the small town of Finland, Minnesota, stands a tall carved wooden statue of a bearded man, his mouth wide open, apparently shouting. | |
Legend has it that sometime long ago, grasshoppers invaded Finland - the country - threatening its grapes. Then in stepped St Urho. | Legend has it that sometime long ago, grasshoppers invaded Finland - the country - threatening its grapes. Then in stepped St Urho. |
"He's got a big mouth, he yelled really loud and they ran away," says Honor Schauland, who coordinates the St Urho's Day parade and celebration in the town. | "He's got a big mouth, he yelled really loud and they ran away," says Honor Schauland, who coordinates the St Urho's Day parade and celebration in the town. |
For 39 years now, the 300 or so people in this little town in the north woods have celebrated that story. | For 39 years now, the 300 or so people in this little town in the north woods have celebrated that story. |
For Amy Gardner, who's cutting out cardboard grasshopper heads for a children's game, this will be her 24th St Urho's Day. | For Amy Gardner, who's cutting out cardboard grasshopper heads for a children's game, this will be her 24th St Urho's Day. |
"Every year, that's the theme. Grasshoppers, grapes and St Urho, and the colours are purple and green," she says. And though she isn't Finnish, that won't stop her. | "Every year, that's the theme. Grasshoppers, grapes and St Urho, and the colours are purple and green," she says. And though she isn't Finnish, that won't stop her. |
"It's a heck of a party. After a long winter, and we've all got a bad case of cabin fever, to come out of our homes and see our neighbours and be totally silly out in the streets is really quite a relief." | "It's a heck of a party. After a long winter, and we've all got a bad case of cabin fever, to come out of our homes and see our neighbours and be totally silly out in the streets is really quite a relief." |
And like the more famous holiday it precedes by a day, St Urho's typically involves alcohol, says Angela Maki Jones, who makes the four-hour drive north from Minneapolis every March. | And like the more famous holiday it precedes by a day, St Urho's typically involves alcohol, says Angela Maki Jones, who makes the four-hour drive north from Minneapolis every March. |
"There's also a myth that Urho did this the day before St Patrick's so the Finns could celebrate and drink all the whiskey before the Irish got to it," she says. | "There's also a myth that Urho did this the day before St Patrick's so the Finns could celebrate and drink all the whiskey before the Irish got to it," she says. |
According to actual history, two northern Minnesota men concocted the story in the 1950s, says Tim Winker, a self-described Finnophile who runs a website devoted to St Urho's Day. | According to actual history, two northern Minnesota men concocted the story in the 1950s, says Tim Winker, a self-described Finnophile who runs a website devoted to St Urho's Day. |
The thinking was, "everybody celebrates St Patrick, what about all of us Finns? We need a hero too!" | The thinking was, "everybody celebrates St Patrick, what about all of us Finns? We need a hero too!" |
And as tall tales tend to do, says Winker, the legend spread. | And as tall tales tend to do, says Winker, the legend spread. |
"Florida, Oregon, Butte, Montana, there are little groups of Finns that hold a St Urho's Day celebration every year, and there are a few more every year," he says. | "Florida, Oregon, Butte, Montana, there are little groups of Finns that hold a St Urho's Day celebration every year, and there are a few more every year," he says. |
But what about in the mother country, thousands of miles away? | But what about in the mother country, thousands of miles away? |
Esa Mustonen manages St Urho's Pub in Finland's capital, Helsinki. It turns out the bar isn't named after the American made-up saint, but former Finnish President Urho Kekkonen. | Esa Mustonen manages St Urho's Pub in Finland's capital, Helsinki. It turns out the bar isn't named after the American made-up saint, but former Finnish President Urho Kekkonen. |
"In Finland we don't celebrate St Urho's day, at all," Mustonen says. | "In Finland we don't celebrate St Urho's day, at all," Mustonen says. |
Still he is familiar with the story. He says despite the fake saint's valiant efforts, there are still grasshoppers in Finland, and the country still doesn't grow any grapes. | Still he is familiar with the story. He says despite the fake saint's valiant efforts, there are still grasshoppers in Finland, and the country still doesn't grow any grapes. |
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