Vappu

May Day (Finland's Labor Day) is known as Vappu, from the Swedish term. 

 

On Vappu, some Finns make a special lemonade from lemons, brown sugar, & yeast called "sima,"  

as well as a crisp pastry fried in oil made from a similar, more liquid dough, that looks like

a mini "funnel cake."

 

 

This is a public holiday that is the only carnival-style street festivity in the country.  People young and old, particularly students, party outside, picnic and wear caps or other decorative clothing. Balloons and other decorations like paper streamers are seen everywhere.  (see other post for these pictures.)

 

So I "Finnished" host families on Vappu, more like a labor of love day.  It took but moments to warm up to loquacious attorney partner Jukka Salomaa (see http://www.lss-oy.com/jukka-salomaa) and his wife Paivi Salpakivi of UPM, as I sat between them during the Tampere Rotary meeting. 

 

After a fabulous lunch, we meandered through Tampere's square, inhaling the vibrant spirit of the city.  We ended up at a champagne bar.  I wish my camera had not ran out of power so that I could have captured via film what is in my mind and heart.  Eventually we ended up at Jukka and Paivi's home, but did not stay long for we walked literally to the neighbor's house for a Bohemian style Vappu party.