Hyvää Vappua (Finnish) and Glada Vappen (Swedish) to everyone! This holiday is one of the biggest celebrations in Finland all year. Mostly it's a party for students who put on their school overalls and drink all night long. In Helsinki the festivities officially start by the naked lady fountain Havis Amanda getting a student cap on, each year a different school of the main universities in Helsinki get to do that and this year was our school's turn. Unfortunate that I missed it. I was there in 2009 when our school did it the last time, we got to stand really close to the statue and the Vappu feeling was completely different than during other years. After she's gotten her hat everyone else who's ever graduated from high school can put their hat on. So 6pm is the official time.
After "Manta" (a friendlier name for the fountain) has gotten her hat people jump in the fountain in their overalls. I know this sounds crazy and the water is freezing but still people do it. Some people actually think the Finnish Vappu traditions should be exported abroad. Here in France it's just the Lily of the Valley flowers that guys are supposed to buy to their loved ones, no other bigger traditions.
Glada vappen alla! :)
Below some pictures from my previous Vappu celebrations in Finland (the guys hanging in the air are our students putting the cap on in 2009).
SHS Styrelse 2009
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