St. Urho

Before celebrations start for St. Patrick's Day, the Finnish descendents in many MN towns hold their own celebration in which they honor St. Urho, whose claim to fame was eradicating grasshoppers which devastated Finland's grape vineyards so the story goes...

Here too in this small northern community of Squaw Lake, with a population just 1 short of 100, the town will overnight become a booming metropolis as people frm hither and yon come "home" to help celebrate St. Urho's Day.

Round Lake, coated with ice 3 feet deep, is flooded with people heavily attired in snowsuits and warm boots, strolling about like penguins. Ice auger in tow, volunteers from Squaw Lake's Fire Department, continue to drill hole after hole in the ice to accommodate the many folks who have come to the Perch Jerkers Contest. Armed only with fishing poles and tackle boxes, fishermen one by one, park themselves and start jerking their minnow tipped lines for the elusive bite of the winning Perch and get to win the big prize from one of many contest categories.

Later in the afternoon, people begin to mingle between Mertes Garage and The Hill, while waiting for St. Urho's parade to begin. You don't want to be late for this gala event. What could be Squaw Lake's claim to fame, St. Urho's parade is under a tenth of a mile long and features quite an array of entries. We like to think we are similar to the famous New Orleans Mardi Gras, only downsized.

Inside The Hill, a local restaurant and lounge, judges are comparing notes, ready to bestow an award for the best tasting Kalamojakka Soup-off contest...in other words the best tasting Fish Chowder soup contest.

Now why would anyone want to miss coming to Squaw Lake, MN on March 14 of this year at 11am. Where else could you go fishing and the holes are drilled for you, participate in a scaled down version of the famous MN Mardi Gras, and to taste some of the best Kalamojakka chowder in the world? Come join in the fun and get to know us, we're just like family.

For more information on this family event, with lots of prizes, food, beverages, raffles and fish, call Brian Williams, 218-659-4216 or Julie Hemphill, 218-659-4239. This is an annual fundraiser for the Squaw Lake Fire Department.

Submitted by: Diane Stay