Many, many years ago in Finland they say there were wild grapes growing all over. One season, a bunch of grasshoppers with a voracious appetite for grapes happened to hop into Finland. Enter the great Finnish Hero, St. Urho. Waving his pitchfork and chanting "Heinasirkka, heinasirkka, menetaalta hiiten" (which in English means "Grasshopper, grasshopper--scoot!"), he drove the grasshoppers out of the vineyards. They were so happy and grateful to Urho, they declared him a saint and now celebrate the event on March 16th. The official colors are purple to represent the grapes and green to represent the vines (or dead grasshoppers?).
According to Minnesota tradition, St. Urho's Day began in the town of Virginia, Minnesota, in 1956. The verbal records say that it began at a St. Patrick's Day party where the Irish were bragging about their St. Patrick and how he drove snakes out of Ireland. Getting sick of all this bragging, someone else decided to blow the Irish bravado off by proclaiming that Finland had a wonderful saint who got rid of poisonous frogs (?)! (Coincidentally, in 1956 the Finnish President was Urho Kekkonen and many believe the name was taken from him.) Others say the tradition started in Bemidji, Minnesota. Whatever the source, it really doesn't matter. Some say that it gives the Finns and the Irish (and all others who celebrate) an excuse for a two-day party. With our long, cold Minnesota winters, it works!
The Irish say that the Finns made up St. Urho to get a day's start on the beer in town. They claim that there really is no such person at all--just an attempt to get at the green beer before the Irish do.
Some towns have statues depicting St. Urho clearing out the grasshoppers. One such town, Menahga, Minnesota, has a 12-foot statue of St. Urho (above) and there is another one in Wisconsin (below). There is also one in Finland, MN, which looks more like a totem pole (no photo).
The Finnish WT's--Mary, Elsie, and Lorraine-- and those that are Finns "by marriage"--Sharon, Joan and Dorothy--wish everyone a Happy St. Urho's Day. Enjoy the legend and do celebrate!