The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

John Maatta, a retired Extension Agent from Chester, grew up in northern Minnesota. Grandparents on both sides of his family came from Finland and John can still speak Finnish. He came last March 17 to help the church celebrate its first ever St. Urho's Day. Urho is a mythical saint created by Finnish-Americans in Minnesota in the 1950's so they could "have their own saint for special celebrations." The made-up saint's birthday was set on March 16, a way for the Finns to start celebrating a day earlier than the Irish.