Sunday, March 16, 2014

Happy St. Urho’s Day 2014!

We attended the St. Urho’s Parade in Menahga yesterday.
Parade St Urhos Day Police Car
St Urho
That is St. Urho  with the pitchfork.

Dead Grashoppers
He kilt all the grasshoppers and the grapes were saved!
Today is the day that Finlanders all over Minnesota celebrate Saint Urho's battle with the pesky grasshoppers that threatened the grape crop. He chased the grasshoppers waving a pitchfork hollering "Heinasirkka, heinasirkka, menetaalta hiiten"...Grasshopper, grasshopper get the hell out of here.

IMG_7400
Chance kept one eye on this dog for a long time…until he disappeared down the street.
The King and Queen waved and all was well, candy was tossed into the streets.
King and Queen
The nytes and the ladies of St. Urho are always fun to photograph! Just incase you are wondering the colors of the day are green and purple…the color of grapes.
Good looking hair Nytes of St urho
Nytes of St urho great lookin hair
St Urhos day nytes in underwear and capes
Where can you wander around town in your underwear and a cape and be greeted with a smile…well in Menahga Minnesota of course every year on the 16th of March.
The parade lasted about seven minutes this year!
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20 comments:

linda m said...

Looks like a fun day to me.

Country Gal said...

Looks and sounds like a really fun day ! Wonderful photos . Thanks for sharing ! Have a good day !

troutbirder said...

Ah those crazy Finlanders. Did I ever mention I went on a drunken (not on my part) opening day out with some teachers years ago and we, I mean they, sobered up at a sauna in Menahga. It was very relaxing. Do they still jump in a hole in the ice afterwards? :)

Travels with Emma said...

I was going to ask where all the snow went, but then I went back and noticed the piles of it behind the police car. ;)

Anonymous said...

That last photo looks like an outfit John would dream up!!!
Parades are always fun and this one is especially colorful.

Lynda said...

I love this post that you do every year! The good news it is also a tradition that is closer to spring than winter. It's a fun time for people to get outside and celebrate community. Even though grasshoppers are one of God's creatures, they freak me out - - especially when they land on me with their sticky legs. I do a crazy woman dance at that point.

Karen said...

I'm waiting for the year that you are a part of the parade:) Nice to see the old traditions continued.

Sam I Am...... said...

You guys have more fun! I love those types of festivals. Never knew about that grasshopper killer either but glad he saved the grapes!

Muffy's Marks said...

Those small town festivals are the best. Did they throw candy? Did you score any Snickers?

Red said...

This looks like a really fun day. You people know how to have fun.

Gail said...

What wonderful fun!!!

LindaG said...

I don't blame Chance for keeping an eye on that dog. It was a little creepy looking.
Looks like a fun day, though!
Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Henny Penny said...

I have never heard of that! It sure looks like fun though!

Jacqi Stevens said...

Grapes? In Finland???

Okay, ya made me look. Google Translate didn't speak Finnish too well, though...

RURAL said...

That is most likely the most unique parade I've seen in well a year...on your blog. Love it. Hurry spring.

Jen

Karen said...

You are up late!

Cynthia said...

Oh, dose wild and crazy Finlanders! Dey sure know how to party.

Nancy said...

Not better than a kilt grasshopper!

Ryker said...

No grapes = no wine
Yeah for St. Urho!

Rita said...

I know I've been through Menahga, but I can't remember which town in northern Minnesota I was in that had the statue of St. Urho? Was that in Menahga?
What a hoot!! :)