Wappu

First of May, vappu is the celebration of students and labor. I had no real experiences about celebrating vappu until I started my studies in Otaniemi - and since then vappu has been my favorite celebration.

The essential ingredients of Wappu are:

• Spring weather (it doesn't have to be sunny, in one of the best Wappus ever it was raining horizontally)
• Sparkling wine
• Friends
• Vappu-magazine: Julkku (even years) or Äpy (odd years)
• Some snacks
• Cheerful mindset

Then what do you do on vappu? Well, washing and hatting of Havis Amanda (Manta) statue on May Day eve is one thing. Most of the people start wearing their student caps during the hatting of Manta at six o'clock, but teekkarit, current and graduated technology students wait until midnight with their caps.

May Day is the actual celebration day. In the morning crowd of 20 000+ head for Kaivopuisto for picnic, while the Swedish speaking prefer Kaisaniemi park. In the afternoon some might take vappu lunch at a restaurant.

Hauskaa Wappua!