Vappu Day celebrations begin after 2-year COVID pause

The celebration of International Workers’ Day, widely known as May Day, began in the country as elsewhere around the world commemorating the 1886 uprising of Chicago workers for establishing their rights.

The celebrations of May Day, locally called Vappu Day seem to be lively this year after the quieter two previous May Days that were overshadowed by the coronavirus outbreak.

The most cherished May Day Eve traditions, the crowning of the Havis Amanda (Manta) statue at Helsinki Market Square, will once again take place in front of a large crowd on Saturday afternoon.

This year, the Student Union of the University of Helsinki has the honour of crowning Manta. The last crowning of Manta in front of an audience took place in spring 2019, said the University of Helsinki in a press release.

On Sunday, city residents will gather in great numbers to celebrate May Day at Kaivopuisto. In addition, different May Day events, such as concerts, May Day marches and lunches will be organised throughout the city and other parts of the country as well.

The people are also advised to maintain health safety and stay at home if they feel at all ill as the the coronavirus has not disappeared.

A possible strike by employees in the municipal sector may affect the post-May Day cleaning schedule as the strike is scheduled to start on 3 May, said the City of Helsinki in a press release on Friday.

During the May Day weekend, the cultural centres will organise many events for residents and people visiting Helsinki.

On May Day Eve, Circo Aereo’s Lion – The Weird and Magical Abracadabra Circus Show will entertain the audience by seasoning traditional circus with virtuoso mimicry and the splatter stylings borrowed from horror films. Vuosaari House will host Johanna Försti and the Antti Koivula Band. Sirius will take the stage with The Noidat performance at Annantalo Spring Festival, and people can also take part in the Peculiar creatures workshop.

International Workers’ Day marks the 1886 Haymarket Massacre in Chicago, when Chicago police fired on workers during a general strike for their legitimate rights, including an eight-hour working day. The firing resulted in the deaths of several demonstrators and police officers.

May 1 was adopted as International Workers’ Day by socialist delegates in Paris in 1889. More than 400 delegates met in Paris on the centenary of the French revolution at the Marxist International Socialist Congress, the founding meeting of the Second International.

The 1889 resolution called for a one-time demonstration, but it became an annual event in the course of time.

May Day was celebrated in Russia, Brazil and Ireland first in 1891.

The day is a public holiday in most countries.