In Finland, May Day (1st of May) is known as Vappu and it is the biggest celebration of the year for students. Thousands of students gather together to see “Mantan lakitus” (a tradition in which the Havis Amanda statue is “capped” with a student cap) on April 30th, celebrate all night long, and then gather at Helsinki’s Ullanlinnanmäki to have a picnic. TOKYO sometimes participates in the capping. And sometimes we don’t.

For some people Vappu times might be distressing with all the noisy people and the streets full of dirt. One could say that for TOKYO, Vappu is a free tradition that happens or doesn’t happen. Sometimes we can be seen in Ullanlinnanmäki, sometimes somewhere else and sometimes nowhere.

We celebrate Vappu as our members want to. Most of the years the plans are made during spring. So, if you have any ideas of how to spend the next one, please don’t hesitate to contact Sheryls: sheryl@tokyo.fi.

Ps: TOKYO members use TOKYO’s lyre in their student caps. You can get one from TOKYO’s service point.