Happy St Urho's Day!

 I am certain by now most of you have heard of St. Urho!

Now for the St. Urho’s Day Poem

Ooksie kooksie kollme vee
Santia Urho is the boy for me
He chase out the hopper as big as pirds
Never before have I heard those words
He really told those bugs of green
Bravest Finn I ever seen
Some celebrate for St. Pat and his snake
But that Urho boy got what it takes
He got tall and strong on feelia sour
And ate Kalla Mojakkaa every hour
Thats why that guy dould chase those beetles
That crew as thick as jack pine needles
So let's give a cheer
in our very best way
On the sixteenth of March
St. Urho's Day!

Happy St Urho's Day!

 Today is St Urhos's day, the colors of the day are purple and green.   As the legend goes the grasshoppers were eating all the grapes so St Urho chased them out of Finland. 

The little town of Menahga Minnesota had a parade last Saturday. 

The parade lasted about two minutes. 

Men in underwear...the highlight of the parade. 

There were not many parade participants or parade watchers even though it was a beautiful day. 

Far Side

Free Concert

We had another date night…two in a row.

Headed to the little town of Menahga where they are holding summertime FREE concerts next to Spirit Lake.  Does Finlanders over dare are gettin' pretty fancy smancy bringin da arts and culture to da nortwoods!!  It was a warm evening but cloudy. There was a good turn out with maybe 200 people there…mostly old farts.

Monroe Crossing is a five piece Blue Grass Band.  I thought their best song was “My Girl” which they introduced as a half Motown and Half Blue Grass so they called it Mograss.

That gal is passing the orange bucket…so that the concerts can continue on next year.   I think that blue tarp was in place just incase it rained.   A lightening bolt hit out on the lake…made everyone sit up and take notice.

We saw a number of people we knew, especially from woodcarving.

I guess I can take or leave Blue Grass music…I like the oldies and that is about it. 

The lady in front of us sprayed just about every bug that landed on her with some kind of perfumy insect spray…then she handed the bottle to her husband.   Good thing we were outside.  

Music in Menahga

You wouldn’t expect much from the little berg of Menahga ( pronounced MEN aw gah).  Population at the last census of 1,306 Finns.  Menahga means “blueberry bush” in the Chippewa language and the Blueberry River runs through town.

The town was able to snag one of those fancy smancy grants from an Art Council and they have been having a series of concerts on Friday nights all summer. (Bringing arts and culture to the backwoods.)

Far Guy and I had a date night!  By the way all these concerts are free..they did pass a bucket, in hopes that they will raise enough money to continue the music series next summer.   It is a simple venue, the band sits on a flat bed trailer near Spirit Lake, and the concert goers bring their own chairs.  Neighbors Steve and Jo went along with us..group date night!

The music was wonderful, a blend of Irish and Celtic music by a band called Ring of Kerry.  It was a beautiful relaxing evening looking out over the lake as the sun set. Did I say the band was awesome?  Well they were and you all know the only music I am half fond of is old rock and roll.

Can you imagine how songs about drinkin’ and sailin’ and fighting over land along a river could entertain a bunch of Finlanders?  Maybe we all had a hard week and it was just nice to sit in a chair and be entertained! :)

St Urho's Day 2010

Happy St Urho's Day! Smack dab in-between the Ides of March and St. Patrick's Day is the little known St Urho's Day celebration. Not many people get excited about this Finnish Hero. I felt that my Grandsons should be taken to the parade..it was our Grandma Adventure last Saturday! I wrote this two years ago. The photos that accompany the story were taken last Saturday. Typical to small town celebrations, there were a King and a Queen in the parade and people that threw candy. Finlanders travel from far and wide to partake in the parade and celebration. Well.. maybe twenty miles or more.

Today is indeed 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.

The colors of the day are Deep Purple representing the grapes, and Emerald Green representing the grasshoppers or the vines.

This legend of Saint Urho began in 1956, in Virginia, Minnesota as a joke, the Finns answer to St. Patrick's Day. Richard L. Mattson and Gene Mc Cavic are most often credited for starting this great celebration.

Today in Menahga, Minnesota there will be men running from the hillside toward the lake, somehow they begin by wearing green, that is magically changed to purple..they chase the grasshoppers into the lake and the whole town celebrates by having Culla Mojakka (Fish Soup) and Flat-bread.

Menahga has a twelve foot tall statue of St. Urho...pronounced Errrrh-hoe...he has a large grasshopper impaled on his pitchfork. The statue is located on Highway 71. Menahga also has the best bakery around, it is located kitty-corner from the Post Office..you can purchase the most wonderful flat-bread there...but never on a Monday.

The little boys indulged me, Little Elvis was a little scared..the boys got lots of candy and the whole parade must have lasted all of five minutes. I have always wanted to attend this parade and I was thrilled to share it with them! :)