May Day celebrations begin across country

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

Although the programmes marking the May Day, locally called Vappu Day, traditionally begins on the Eve of the day through washing and crowning of the Havis Amanda statue in the capital, this year students gathered around a makeshift monument as the fountain temporarily removed for renovation.

The celebrations focus on Kansalaistori (Citizens' Square) between the Oodi Central Library and the Helsinki Music Centre with thousands of people witnessing the ceremony.

The celebrations started there with a one-off stand-in sculpture created by the students of the University of the Arts Helsinki.

The pink plastic statue looks like the real Havis Amanda was designed by sculptor Ville Vallgren.

On May 1, the traditional parade of May Day will be organized by the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK), which will start at 10:00 am from Hakaniemi Square and move around the city centre and the senate Square near.

The traffic movement will be disrupted and the police advised people to avoid travelling with a car in the City centre from 5:00 pm on Tuesday to 12 noon on Wednesday.

Helsinki Police decided to beef up security measures during the celebration of Vappu celebrations between Tuesday and Wednesday.

As is tradition, a variety of events and demonstrations take place on May Day and Police assured to ensure safety at the demonstrations and handle the related traffic control.

President Alexander Stubb and First Lady Suzanne Innes-Stubb will receive May Day greetings at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday.

The event will begin in the courtyard of the Presidential Palace at 10.15 with the reception of the Mayflower.

The Mayflower is a charity pin sold through a fundraising campaign organised by Folkhälsan, a civil society organisation.

The proceeds are used to promote the health and well-being of children and young people. young people. The Mayflower is Finland's oldest charity pin.

The presidential couple will then be greeted by the Finnish Workers' Music Federation.

This year the music will be provided by the wind orchestra of the Sibelius-opisto music institute in Hämeenlinna.

The outdoor event will end at 11.10 with the traditional address by the Student Union of the University of Helsinki and the YL Male Voice Choir.

As the event continues at the Presidential Palace, Aalto University students will present the presidential couple with a copy of Julkku, the May Day comic magazine.

Members of the public are welcome to watch the outdoor part of the event from the Market Square and Pohjois Esplanadi.

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.

Meanwhile, due to May Day celebrations, there will be alterations in both long-distance and commuter services.