hyvää Vappua!

The first of May is a holiday in Finland. Although partying began several days earlier, the official start to Vappu is at 6:00 PM the day before. A big crowd congregates at the statue of Havis Amanda located between Kauppatori square and Esplanadi park.

TKK students are hoisted into the air.

The statue is ceremonially washed.

At 18:00 sharp, Havis Amanda gets a student cap.

Now the festivities can really begin!
The photo above was taken in Senaatintori square, just north of Kauppatori. The student at lower left is wearing the traditional student cap and overalls (red indicates that he is studying chemical engineering), and is selling this year's edition of the Vappu humor magazine.