Everyone knows that tomorrow is Saint Patrick's Day but did you know that today is Saint Urho's Day? This special day is based on a Northern Minnesota legend begun in the 1950s. Richard Mattson, a Finnish American founded the day as a playful reason to celebrate on the day before Saint Patrick's Day. "Why," he asked "Should the Irish have all the fun?" Since the 50s this day has evolved from a joke to a beloved tradition celebrated in many cities throughout the United States, especially by Finnish Americans.
The serious celebrators wear purple and green, purple for grapes and green for grasshoppers (the bugs not the drink). The legend goes that Saint Urho drove all the grasshoppers out of Finland, thereby saving the vineyards.
If you seriously doubt that Finland has vineyards, or grasshoppers for that matter, I suggest that you visit Finland on your next holiday. It's a wonderful country and I highly recommend a visit.
But if you want to celebrate Saint Urho's Day you will have to stay in the USA. Saint Urho's Day is not celebrated in Finland. It is, however, celebrated in Finland, Minnesota and many other US cities, also at least one in Canada.
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