THUNDER BAY – St. Urho’s Day may be a silly, made-up holiday, but it didn’t stop dozens of Finns from taking to the streets dressed in traditional royal purple and Nile green to remind any would-be grasshopper invaders that their days are numbered.
It’s just a lot of fun, said Seija Nousiainen, who led the parade around the Bay and Algoma District on Saturday morning with her 11-year-old son Jukka and eight-year-old daughter Essi.
It’s also a family affair, a chance to celebrate their Finnish culture in a fun-filled way.
“It’s important to us. This is part of our community, part of our heritage and it’s important to show the kids, take part in these kind of traditions and keep this alive. It’s a lot of fun. This is a great event here,” she said.
“This is why we come dressed up in our costumes, in our purple and our green and make it a fun event.”
Essi said her favourite part of the weekend-long celebration, which includes Finnish music, food and games, was hitting the streets, leading St. Urho and his grasshopper pal around the neighbourhood.
“I like the parade because you get to go outside and you get to chant and a whole bunch of people watch you. It’s just fun,” she said, having to spend this year’s St. Urho’s Day without her father, who traditionally plays the part of the saint, because he was out of town on business.
The legend of St. Urho arose in northern Minnesota in the 1950s.
According to that legend, the patron saint of Finland chased off hordes of grasshoppers who were threatening the Scandinavian country’s vineyards, chanting, “Heinäsirkka, heinäsirkka, mene täältä hiiteen."
Essentially, it means “Grasshopper, grasshopper, go to hell.”
Organizer Heleena Stephens said it’s been celebrated in Thunder Bay for 37 years, but it’s never quite the same event twice.
“Each year we kind of evolve and change, adapt to what people expect, while keeping the traditional parade and the stuff you have to have,” she said.
“But since then we’ve had the belly dancers, the Japanese drummers join us. We’ve had some Celtic dancers and ballroom dancers and comedians and all kinds of stuff that help supplement the day and make it all inclusive. And that’s just bringing everyone together.”
A variety show, carnival corner and a murder mystery dinner theatre put on by the Capital Players are also taking part on Saturday. On Sunday a marketplace, Mrs. Urho’s Story, will be held at the Finlandia hall.
