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May Day is a celebration of spring and labour. In Finland people celebrate May Day in many different ways on 30th of April and 1st of May.
People gather for picnics. Doughnuts and sima, a drink similar to lemonade, are enjoyed on May Day. Many also celebrate with sparkling wine. Homes are decorated with balloons and streamers. It is customery for those who have graduated upper secondary school to wear their white caps. Labourers organise May Day marches.
May Day events in Hämeenlinna
- The Hämeenlinna Medieval Association’s donut kiosk will be selling donuts in Linnanpuisto, serving on April 30th from 3 PM to 6 PM and on May 1st from 11 AM to 6 PM. They will also be selling homemade sima
- The student union of Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) will crown the statue of Sibelius on April 30th at 3:30 PM in Sibelius Park and will give May Day speeches
- May Day market and musical performances at Hämeenlinna Market Square starting at 12 PM on May 1st
- At Galleria ARX, the “Merkillinen Skidipeli” exhibition will be held on May 1st from 11 AM to 3 PM, where children can play at a newspaper kiosk and create their own news broadcasts. Children can also craft “Hippalot ears” as May Day headwear
More May Day events (in Finnish): Vappu Hämeenlinnassa – Hämeenlinna (hameenlinna.fi)
Residents’ Service Point Kastelli will be closed on May Day
The city advisory service and International Service Centre at Residents’ Service Point Kastelli will be closed on May 1st.
