Carol and Russ Olson, King and Queen of St. Urho's Day at the St. Urho statue. St. Urho's Day celebrations took place on Friday and Saturday, March 15 and 16, 2024, in Menahga.
Every year on March 16, Finns (and friends of Finns) gather in Menahga to celebrate the Patron Saint of the Finnish vineyard workers, St. Urho.
MENAHGA — Who is St. Urho?
He’s the guy who saved the wild grapes of Finland from a plague of grasshoppers by driving them out with the words, “Heinäsirkka, heinäsirkka, mene täältä hiiteen!” (“Grasshopper, grasshopper, go from hence to Hell!”) That’s how the legend goes.
Lorie Shaull
One of the Nytes of St. Urho at the St. Urho's Day Parade.
It’s actually a made-up legend by Finnish-Americans from Northern Minnesota, created in order to have a celebration the day before St. Patrick’s Day. Why should St. Patrick’s feat of driving the snakes out of Ireland get all the attention … and parades?
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The Flag Presentation at Opening Ceremonies held at Menahga High School.
The Menahga City Council takes St. Urho’s celebrations seriously, or as seriously the legend warrants, and even signed a proclamation this year to officially mark St. Urho’s Day as March 16 in Menahga for this and all years to come.
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Menahga Mayor, Elizabeth Olson, reads the St. Urho Proclamation during the Opening Ceremony.
Celebrations kicked off at an opening ceremony events on Friday evening at the Menahga High School Gymnasium. The opening ceremony program included a flag presentation, reading of the St. Urho proclamation, crowning this year’s St. Urho royalty and St. Urho's Medallion Hunt winners.
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The crowning of Russ and Carol Olson, King and Queen of St. Urho's Day during Opening Ceremonies.
Capping off the evening was entertainment by Finnish-American Steve Solkela's "overpopulated" one-man band. Steve's set included a number of polkas, including "St. Urho Polka," as well as songs in Finnish and possibly a song in Spanish.
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Steve Solkela in "Overpopulated," his one-man band of 23 instruments, plays at the St. Urho's Day Opening Ceremony.
On Saturday, gathering at the St. Urho statue, the Nytes of St. Urho arrived in a colorful procession for the changing of the guard ceremony. Part of that ceremony included stripping off outer clothing down to their purple long underwear, a brave performance on a gusty and chilly day.
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The Nytes of St Urho arrive at the St Urho Statue.
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The Nytes of St Urho strip down to their purple long underwear for the Changing of the Guards ceremony.
Afterward, a very short but spirited parade took place on Main Street. To warm up, $1 grasshopper drinks were available at Northbound Spirits as well as Mojakka (a Finnish stew) at The Cotty and VFW. The Nordic Coffee House was also serving Heinasirkka and a Grasshopper Mint Mocha.
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Handing out beads at the St. Urho's Day Parade.
So don't forget to mark your calendars for March 16 next year and years following, get out your royal purple and nile green clothes, (the official colors of St. Urho’s Day), and get yourself to Menahga to celebrate St. Urho!
1 of 14 — Janis Hillstrom, a Menahga resident and Finn at the St. Urho's Day Parade.jpg
Janis Hillstrom, a Menahga resident and Finn at the St. Urho's Day Parade.
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2 of 14 — Steve Solkela plays accordion while unicycling at the Opening Ceremony for St. Urho's Day.jpg
Steve Solkela plays accordion while unicycling at the Opening Ceremony for St. Urho's Day.
Lorie Shaull
3 of 14 — Steve Solkela's One-Man Band plays at the Opening Ceremony.jpg
Steve Solkela's "Overpopulated" One-Man Band plays at the Opening Ceremony.
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4 of 14 — Gloria Markkula, Past President of The Menahga Civic & Commerce Association at St. Urho Day Opening Ceremonies.jpg
Gloria Markkula, Past President of The Menahga Civic & Commerce Association at St. Urho's Day Opening Ceremonies.
Lorie Shaull
5 of 14 — Attendees, including last year's St Urho King and Queen, at Opening Ceremonies for St Urho's Day in Menahga, Minnesota.jpg
Attendees, including Russell and Arlene Rasmussen, last year's St. Urho King and Queen at Opening Ceremonies for St. Urho's Day.
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6 of 14 — The crowning of Carol and Russ Olson, King and Queen of St. Urho's Day during Opening Ceremonies..jpg
The crowning of Carol and Russ Olson, this year's King and Queen of St. Urho's Day.
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7 of 14 — This years King and Queen of St Urhos Day, Russel and Carol Olson, look on at opening ceremonies in Menahga, Minnesota.jpg
This year's King and Queen of St Urhos Day, Russ and Carol Olson, look on at opening ceremonies.
Lorie Shaull
8 of 14 — Members of The Nytes of St. Urho at the Changing of the Guard.jpg
Members of The Nytes of St. Urho at the Changing of the Guard.
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9 of 14 — The St Urho's Day Parade in Menahga, Minnesota.jpg
The St Urho's Day Parade.
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10 of 14 — A car with a grasshopper on top at the St Urho's Day Parade in Menahga, Minnesota.jpg
A car with a grasshopper on the roof at the St. Urho's Day Parade.
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11 of 14 — Drummers in the St Urho's Day Parade in Menahga, Minnesota.jpg
Drummers in the St. Urho's Day Parade.
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12 of 14 — Handing out beads at the St. Urho's Day Parade.jpg
Handing out beads at the St. Urho's Day Parade.
Lorie Shaull
13 of 14 — The Nytes of St Urho enjoy a grasshopper drink at Northbound Spirits in Menahga, Minnesota.jpg
The Nytes of St. Urho enjoy a grasshopper drink at Northbound Spirits.
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14 of 14 — Brandi Sievers and Angie Hutchins, this years Medallion Hunt winners.jpg
Brandi Sievers and Angie Hutchins, this year's Medallion Hunt winners, at Friday's Opening Ceremony. St Urho's Day Celebrations took place on Friday and Saturday, March 15 and 16 in Menahga.
