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St. Urho's Day

Fun ยท March 16

St. Urho's Day honors a legendary Finnish hero said to have chased the grasshoppers out of Finland, marked with purple, green and good humor.

St. Urho's Day

St. Urho's Day falls on Tuesday, March 16, 2027. That is 140 days away.

St. Urho is a figure of Finnish-American folklore. According to the legend, he drove the grasshoppers out of Finland and saved the country's grape harvest. He is a character of tall tales rather than a saint recognized by any church, and the people who tell his story know that perfectly well.

The day is strongest in places with deep Finnish roots, especially parts of Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. Towns there hold parades, crown local royalty and gather in halls and diners. The official colors are royal purple and nile green, which stand for the grapes and the defeated grasshoppers. People wear both at once with complete confidence.

The legend has a chant that goes with it, a few lines of mock Finnish ordering the grasshoppers to go away. Some celebrations stage the banishing itself, with participants dressed as insects being marched off by someone playing Urho. Statues of the hero, pitchfork in hand and a grasshopper skewered on the end, stand in a few Minnesota towns.

Food leans Finnish and practical. Think rye bread, fish soup, cardamom bread called pulla, and anything purple enough to match the colors. Grape juice or grape jelly makes an easy nod to the vineyards Urho supposedly protected.

It is a homegrown legend, and it lives mostly in community halls, small parades and the Finnish phrases people still remember from their grandparents.

Ways to celebrate

Dates

YearDate
2026Monday, March 16
2027Tuesday, March 16
2028Thursday, March 16
2029Friday, March 16
2030Saturday, March 16

All national days on March 16

Also on March 16

Categories: Fun days