The Briefing Room

General Category => National/Breaking News => Topic started by: jmyrlefuller on March 17, 2014, 12:26:41 pm

Title: Celebrating St Urho: American Finns take on St Patrick
Post by: jmyrlefuller on March 17, 2014, 12:26:41 pm
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26582809

by Dan Kraker

St Patrick's Day is 17 March, of course. But it's not just the Irish who throw a party this time of year. Across the US, small groups of Finnish Americans are celebrating St Urho's Day, which falls on 16 March.

At the main junction in the small town of Finland, Minnesota, stands a tall carved wooden statue of a bearded man, his mouth wide open, apparently shouting. Legend has it that sometime long ago, grasshoppers invaded Finland - the country - threatening its grapes. Then in stepped St Urho. "He's got a big mouth, he yelled really loud and they ran away."

According to actual history, two northern Minnesota men concocted the story in the 1950s, says Tim Winker, a self-described Finnophile who runs a website devoted to St Urho's Day.

"In Finland we don't celebrate St Urho's day, at all." There are still grasshoppers in Finland, and the country still doesn't grow any grapes.

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Title: Re: Celebrating St Urho: American Finns take on St Patrick
Post by: mountaineer on March 17, 2014, 02:18:26 pm
Ah well, a good story anyway. What's the appropriate Finnish beverage for such a holiday?
Title: Re: Celebrating St Urho: American Finns take on St Patrick
Post by: EC on March 17, 2014, 02:20:45 pm
Vodka. Lots of it.
Title: Re: Celebrating St Urho: American Finns take on St Patrick
Post by: Chieftain on March 17, 2014, 02:28:13 pm
Quote from: EC on March 17, 2014, 02:20:45 pm
Vodka. Lots of it.

Along with brooding and long Tango contests......

 :beer:
Title: Re: Celebrating St Urho: American Finns take on St Patrick
Post by: jmyrlefuller on March 17, 2014, 02:30:28 pm
And playing this song over and over again:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bR3Y7peDiG8
Title: Re: Celebrating St Urho: American Finns take on St Patrick
Post by: mountaineer on March 17, 2014, 02:54:10 pm
Quote from: Chieftain on March 17, 2014, 02:28:13 pm
Quote
Vodka. Lots of it.
Along with brooding and long Tango contests......

 :beer:
Bleah. I'll pass.   ^-^
Title: Re: Celebrating St Urho: American Finns take on St Patrick
Post by: EC on March 17, 2014, 02:55:02 pm
Quote from: mountaineer on March 17, 2014, 02:54:10 pm
Along with brooding and long Tango contests......

 :beer:
Bleah. I'll pass.   ^-^

Brooding is easy with sufficient vodka!  :beer: