Tammisaari Local Customs

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The May Day celebrations in Finland go farther back than the socialist-communist tradition of celebrating Worker's Day. In fact, the May Day celebrations co-incide with a festival for celebrating Spring dating back to pre-Christian times. It is no surprise that this time of year is the time of year to celebrate Spring. Though Spring often is rather cool still in early May, women usually wear something nice and summery, bravely ignoring the usually cold breezes whilst shivering in thin clothes. The student hats (white caps) do provide some protection for the heads. This is the only day of the year people wear their student hats, except for the day when they get them (as a sign of passing the matriculation examination around end of May, early June).

Celebrations start 30 April, as May Day is a day off (and all shops are closed!). Friends are invited over for dinner, or you all go out to enjoy the merriment in the bars. Or possibly both. The following day, 1 May, is usually more serene. There are the left-wing parades, and then there is the traditional choir singing in the parks.

In Helsinki, it is the Kaisaniemi park at 10 am, in Turku it is the evening before and in Ekenäs it is the local men's choir that provides the musical entertainment in Stallörsparken, in that weird looking partial dome-shaped construction.

Having thus nourished their spirit, many steer towards Knipan, the summer restaurant de rigeur that opens for the season during the May Day festivities. If you did not get around to booking a table in time, other eateries are also open. Or then you can enjoy lunch at home, or - if the weather is decent - a picnic in parks like Stallörsparken or at Ramsholmen. If too cold to sit down and eat, at least you can take a walk on Ramsholmen and some years you will be able to pick white anemones. But leave the yellow ones alone, they are protected!