St. Urho's Day Celebrations

The City of Finlayson has a strong Finnish heritage, and what better way to celebrate that heritage than with a St. Urho's Celebration, honoring the patron saint, Urho! The legend of St. Urho is about a man, towering over 7' tall, who saved Finland (and the wine grapes) from a grasshoppr plague by chanting a Finnish command. The story is celebrated on March 16th, St. Urho's Day, by Finnish Americans.

Legend has it that before the last glacial period, wild grapes grew in abundance in Finland, and were threatened by a grasshopper plage. St. Urho, who got his strength & booming voice from drinking sour milk (viili) and fish soup (Lohikeitto), chanted "Heinäsirkka, heinäsirkka, mene täältä hiiteen," which translates to "Grasshopper, grasshopper, go away and the grasshoppers fled to another country's crop, saving the wine in Finland!

How can you celebrate? Wear green and purple and celebrate Finnish heritage with a toast to St. Urho!