rdn@ritcv.UUCP (Rayno D Niemi) (02/27/84)
The Legend of St. Urho One of the lesser known but extraordinary legends of ages past is the legend of St. Urho, the patron saint of the Fin- nish vineyard workers. Before the last glacial period, the legend goes, wild grapes grew in abundance in the area now known as Finland. Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of this fact scratched on the thighbones of giant bears that once roamed northern Europe. The grapes were threatened by a plague of grasshoppers until Urho banished the lot of them with "Heinasirkka, heinasirk- ka, mene taalta hiiteen." In memory of this impressive demonstration of the power of the Finnish language, at sun rise each March 16th, Finnish women and children dressed in royal purple and nile green gather around the shores of the many lakes in Finland and chant what St. Urho chanted many, many years ago: "Heinasirkka, heinasirkka, mene taalta hii- teen!" Translated, this means "Grasshopper, grasshopper, go away!" The adult males, dressed in green costumes, gather on the hills overlooking the lakes, listen to the chant, then kick- ing out like grasshoppers, slowly disappear to change cos- tumes from green to purple. The celebration ends with sing- ing, dancing polkas, and schottisches, and drinking grape juice, although these activities may occur in varying se- quences. Colors for the day are royal purple and nile green.