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.
The programmes marking the May Day, locally called Vappu Day, traditionally began on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. through washing and crowning of the Havis Amanda statue in the capital, with thousands of people witnessing the ceremony.
Last year the May Day eve celebrations took place around a makeshift monument as the fountain was temporarily removed for renovation but the statue of Havis Amanda received its traditional white student cap again as the renovation completed.
The student union of the Swedish School of Economics, Svenska Handelshögskolans Studentkår, got the honour of capping "Manta" this year.
The celebrations focus on Kansalaistori (Citizens' Square) between the Oodi Central Library and the Helsinki Music Centre with thousands of people witnessing the ceremony.
Students also placed caps on statues in other parts of the country including Tampere, Turku, Jyväskylä and Oulu.
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 Wednesday to 12 noon on Thursday.
President Alexander Stubb and First Lady Suzanne Innes-Stubb will receive May Day greetings in Helsinki on Thursday, said the President Office in a press release.
The event will begin in the courtyard of the Presidential Palace at 9.30 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. The Mayflower is Finland’s oldest charity pin.
The presidential couple will be greeted by the Finnish Workers' Music Federation. The greeting is presented by the joint ensemble of the youth orchestra Ikaalisten Nuoriso-orkesteri and the wind band Puhallica.
The event in front of the Presidential Palace will conclude with a greeting from the Student Union of the University of Helsinki, the choir Akademiska Sångföreningen 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 Wappulehti Äpy, the May Day comic magazine published by the university’s student union.
Helsinki Police decided to beef up security measures during the celebration of Vappu celebrations between Wednesday and Thursday.
Meanwhile, due to May Day celebrations, there will be alterations in both long-distance and commuter services.
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.
Some streets around the Esplanade Park and Kaivopuisto will be closed.
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.
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
