Fact or Fiction?

If you want to find out more about about St. Urho, travel to the Finnish community of Menahga, Minnesota, in the heart of Lake Country. You'll be greeted at the city limits by a large statue of the saint with a giant grasshopper impaled on his legendary pitchfork.

But St. Urho's status as the patron saint of Finland, remembered for ridding the country of a grasshopper invasion that threatened to destroy the grape harvest, is a matter for some debate. Some say the legend was created as a prank to allow the Finns to celebrate on March 16 with drink and merriment, one day before Ireland's venerable St. Patrick is lauded for his heroic deeds.

We invite you to decide for yourself. Visit these websites, then cast your ballot.
• RoadsideAmerica.com's report on the Menahga statue
• Wikipedia's non-historical traditions of Finnish mythology
• Even the University of Wisconsin-Stout has an explanation

After you read up on St. Urho, please register or sign in and let us know your decision—fact or fiction? Either way, you can don the purple and green and celebrate March 16.

Photo by Jim Mans, published in LCJM Mar/Apr 1999.