May Day!

#mayday vappu 1969 helsinki #finland ☘️

contrary to popular belief may day celebration in finland has originally nothing to do with may first labor day, a big day especially in the halcyon days of the eastern neighbors belonging to the ambit of the erstwhile USSR union of soviet socialistic republics.

the first of may fest or vappu in finnish has a way much older back story. a centuries old tradition that traces back to the works of the legendary christian catholic saint valburg against the magic of lappish shamans, witches, and wizards whom, by the way, the lutheran protestant christians at times severely persecuted.

arguably, may 1 day in finland has more to to do with JRR Tolkien rather than Karl Marx. its more of "people, let the magic begin!", rather than "workers of the world, unite!" as in this old photo from 1969 - that time when the Mao Zedong's 文化大革命 chinese cultural revolution was at its most intense. maski sa amin sa pilipinas umabot yan kaya nga si JoMa humiwalay sa PKP at nagtatag ng CPP. cold war era geopolitics zeitgeist and all that revo mood of those bygone times.

anyways, since the yanky happy hippy make love not war free spirit of the 1970s spilled over to finland, May 1st eventually became a youth fiesta this side of the world with all that hugs and love, caps and wine to boot. this spirit of celebration and joyful tradition are still intense and palpable when u happen to visit helsinki on the eve of may day 💖

blast from the past photo by tuula löfström