Hauskaa Vappua! Happy Labour Day!
April 30, 2013
Tomorrow is Vappu / Labour Day in Finland. Wikipedia refers to it as Walpurgis Day (never heard of that before). It is one of the biggest celebrations on the Finnish calendar and coincides with the beginning of spring.
Speculation about the weather on Vappu is always a news piece in the media. Tomorrow it looks as though it will be a normal Vappu as far as the weather goes, unsettled.
Tomorrow is the time to enjoy good food, good fun and a couple glasses of bubbly.
So enjoy the festivities, stay warm and don’t drink and drive!
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Life in Finland (and beyond) 
Walpurgis day (or rather night) is a mediaeval celebration and has not much in common with the Labor Day like celebrated in Finland. It’s Germanic and a blend of pagan and Christian influences (holy Walpurga) . Our celebrations are mainly linked to “Tanz in den Mai” (Dance into May), which is part of the Walpurgis Tradition (witches dance, “burning” the winter away in a bonfire, etc). This is again something held on Finnish Easter, which again does not match the Christian meaning of Easter. Celebrating “Labor Day” is rather perceived socialistic or a reason for riots….
Hauskaa Vappua! (Heading for a touristic trip to St. Petersburg – not so much into picnic at +5 C!).
Vappu has been celebrated in finland since medieval times under swedish rule.
Nowadays vappu is held to celebrate the finnish work.