Vappu in Finland & Queen's Day in Holland

After a loooong winter period Finns crawl out from their caves next week to celebrate Vappu, a yearly carnival that has some history with 1st of May parades and speeches. And these parades are nothing like US parades, up there you are silent and just march...

But there is another side of Finns too. When you watch some Finns in action, you would not expect to find them in the middle of the fun below.
These pics are from the centerpiece of the event; On 30th of April at 6 pm washing winter dirt off and putting a traditional student hat on the Lady of Helsinki, Havis Amanda -statue.
Each year one of the universities have got the privilege to do it, and since it is quite big they have become quite creative with the task.
The night continues with the traditional bar-tours and continues the following morning at a park right next to city center, Ullanlinnanmäki. At 9 am there are some formal speeches, again by one of the student boards, and day continues with brunch pic-nic. Some creative people drag there tables, chairs, big BBQ grills and some student boards even have portable saunas that they bring in. I can tell you the salty herring and pickels together with sparkling makes wonders...

Many have a tradition to have brunch or early dinner at a restaurant so it is almost impossible to get a table in more popular restaurants.

Normally the weather is still cold so you can't go swimming - park is at seaside like actually the whole city centre - but as said it is the first time people get out to have fun.

Balloons are part of the packet for the kids...

...and bubbles for the adults.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vappu#Finland

Here in Brussels we have a tradition to put a similar cap on Manneken Pis at 6 pm on 30th. After-party is in a restaurant at Grand Place, hence you see a Finnish flag hanging from one of the balconies. Next day pic-nic is at the parc in front of the Royal Palace.
Note the strength of the pis coming from Manneken Pis...

What if Finland is too far for next week?

If you want to experience something like that in more central Europe, I recommend to go to Amsterdam next week to celebrate the birthday of the Queen. I've been there once and I can tell you those guys know how to throw a party...

The attitude towards the day can be best described by a quote from a Dutch:
"We aren’t really interested in who’s birthday it is!"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queens_Day

And the best part is that the Queen has died for a long time ago...