Gossamer Tapestry

Reflections on conservation, butterflies, and ecology in the nation's heartland

Monday, March 16, 2009

Happy St. Urho's Day


No, not St. UrSpo's Day (I know UrSpo. The man is no saint), St. Urho's Day. St. Urho, he who drove the scourge of grasshoppers out of Finland, thus sparing the Finnish wine harvest. St, Urho is the reason that I will never write my long dreamed of Field Guide to the Oedipodinae of Finland.

Celebrate by wearing royal purple and nile green! Alas, my nile green tie is at the cleaners, but I am wearing my royal purple shirt. I welcome any holiday that can be celebrated with wine and wearing purple.

Heinäsirkka, heinäsirkka, mene täältä hiiteen!

Hat Tip to Bug Girl.

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10 Comments:

At 10:23, Blogger Dave Coulter said...

Brother....this IS the week for holidays:

http://osagegroup.blogspot.com/2009/03/pluto-day.html

 
At 13:19, Blogger robin andrea said...

I rescued a grasshopper just the other day. Let it sit on my hand for a little while before it leaped away. I think I must be the anti-Urho.

 
At 16:58, Blogger cedrorum said...

I've never heard of this. Interesting.

 
At 18:06, Blogger Lemuel said...

Never fear! Given enough time someone will eventually re-introduce grasshoppers to Finland where I anticipate they have no natural enemies - rather like rabbits in Australia - and then you can write the book.

 
At 21:29, Blogger Doug Taron said...

Dave- You, and Pi day was this week, too.

Robin- I'm kind of the anti-Urho, too. But I won't dwell on such things today.

cedrorum- I only heard of it recently. Bug Girl is a veritable font of knowledge.

Lem- But they won't be the autocthonous grasshoppers.

 
At 22:38, Blogger Ur-spo said...

My feast day is July 7th
I am a living saint.
Do not dare to question this.

St. Urspo, patron saint of heirloom tomatoes, loud shirts, and BBQ sauce makers

 
At 23:36, Blogger SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

I am not sure whether to classify him as friend or foe Doug? :)

 
At 15:02, Anonymous Anonymous said...

For St Urspo, I can see what to cook. BUT. WHAT do I make for this insect day? Do we FRY up some............er, woops, .....doth Tell, Doctor. What kind of party buffet for St Urho?

 
At 18:46, Blogger Fresh Kiki said...

wine and purple-yes Doug that is good:-)

 
At 09:25, Blogger Will said...

Hyva, Urho! That's thanks to my partially Finnish-speaking husband!

 

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