St. Urho's History... |
St. Urho's Day is a Finnish-American tradition. The legend of St. Urho originated in Northern Minnesota in the 1950s. There is some dispute over who actually started the whole thing, but it likely began with the tongue-in-cheek stories told by Richard Mattson in Virginia, MN and was further shaped by Sulo Havumaki of Bemidji, MN. In Finnish, Urho means hero or simply brave. (Coincidentally, in 1956 the President of Finland was Urho Kekkonen) However it began, though, St. Urho’s day is now known and celebrated in communities in the United States, Canada, and even in Finland. According to the legend, St. Urho single-handedly saved the Finnish grape harvest from being devoured by grasshoppers. Plagued by hordes of grasshoppers, the Finnish vintners faced the loss of their precious grape crop. Fortunately, St. Urho was there to save the day. His method for ousting the vine-chomping pests? A pitchfork and some strong words: "Heinäsirkka, heinäsirkka, meine täällä hiiteen!" or "Grasshopper, grasshopper, go away from here!" St. Urho's Day is celebrated on March 16th by wearing the deep purple to represent the grapes and green to represent the vines. To read the "Ode to St. Urho" by Gene McCavic and Richard Mattson, click here. |
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| St. Urho statue in Menahga, MN (Photograph - C. Bomar 1997) |
March Specials!
Check out the special prices on my designs with St. Urho and St. Patrick's Day colors below!
$12.00
March Design
St. Urho Czech Glass Earrings
Inverted purple and green Czech glass on sterling silver wires, 5/8" long
$12.00
March Design
St. Urho Swarovski Crystal Earrings
Purple and green Swarovski crystal on sterling silver wires, 7/8" long
$12.00
March Design
St. Patrick's Malachite and Swarovski Crystal Earrings
Malachite and Swarovski crystal on sterling silver wires, 1" long
$12.00
March Design
St. Patrick's Malachite and Czech Glass Earrings
Malachite and Czech glass on sterling silver wires, 3/4" long
$12.00
March Design
Malachite and Aventurine Earrings
Malachite and aventurine on sterling silver wires, 7/8"
$12.00
Olive Green Czech Glass and Purple Swarovski Crystal
Olive green Czech glass and purple Swarovski crystal on sterling silver wires, 1" long
$12.00
Jade with Sterling Silver Bead Caps
Jade on sterling silver wires, 1/2" long
$12.00
Malachite and Black Swarovski Crystal Earrings
Malachite and black Swarovski crystal on sterling silver wires, 5/8" long
