Vappu / Wappu Sima Factory

My sima factory for Wappu has been operating for this year. The Wappu evening is on Thursday, 30th April, it's the summer season - or actually proper spring - opening for Finland. At the same time my Dutch friends celebrate the Queen's day, enjoy!!!

It is actually very easy to make (ssshhhhh, don't tell the ones who enjoy mine, let them think it is difficult...). Or perhaps it is easy only when you have the skills!?!

If you are somewhere outside the reach of fariinisokeri, the particular type of brown sugar, you can check an option for brewing at youtube:

...and a bit more original version:

To get more background about the festival itself, you can check my old posts.

This is also one source for Wappu info: http://wappu.fi/

Hauskaa Wapun odotusta - Looking forward to the fiesta!

It's Vappu - Wappu - Walborg so Cheers(!) - Hölökynkölökyn - Kippis - Skål - Terviseks!

Today is Wappu, the evening of 1st of May - Hauskaa Wappua!!!

In Finland it is THE carneval evening, night & day of the year when people get together. At Midsummer most run away to their summer cabins, the Independence Day in December is somewhat holy day which I wonder a bit, Christmas is Christmas, and at New Year it is damn too cold to celebrate outside, and Easter is also during winter/spring season without festive history - vice versa...

And of course have a great Queen's Day ...woops, have a great King's Day my Dutch friends!!!

I don't want to repeat myself so check out my previous Vappu - or Wappu posts from here;
http://withlovefromtheworld.blogspot.fi/search/label/Vappu

...and since there is quite high increase of alcohol consumption during Wappu, let's give it a serious thought...

If you have ever wondered why you feel smart after a few beers, read the scientific explanation below.

Some of you have already seen this on Facebook by AsapSCIENCE and/or some other site...

CHEERS!

HAUSKAA WAPPUA!!!

Red Face Day - Vappu, May 1st

There will be maaaany red faces in Finland after today. The sun is up with a clear sky, it is the very first summer-like day in Finland after the looong winter. Temp in the sun already at 09:30 am was +18C.. When you combine that with the carneval style alcohol consumption we had yesterday all over and tend to have on May 1st, the red face coctail is ready!
http://www.iltalehti.fi/uutiset/2013043016965446_uu.shtml
http://live.hs.fi/Event/HS_seuraa_vapunviettoa

Today the Ullanlinnanmäki at Helsinki will be packed with drunk picnic people!
http://www.iltalehti.fi/uutiset/2013050116966007_uu.shtml

What surprised me a bit this morning, was the B-section's front page of Helsingin Sanomat, that had the King with his orage people all over. Still, the Queen's Day will not be the King's Day...

Have a great Vappu - Wappu - Walborg day - where ever you are!

Vappu - Wappu - Walborg in Finland, Queens Day in Holland

Long Live the Queen - and as of today, the King of Holland!

Many thanks for the spectacular, or should I say fabulastic, festival in Holland - the Queen's Day on April 30th! I've enjoyed it only once while I can say it is veeeery much worth the visit. I believe even more today as the power in Holland is going to a King after over 100 years of Queen power.

Long Live Wappu, Vappu, Walborg!
Yes, the patio is clear from the snow for vappu bbq or what ever we choose to use it for. Also the standard stuff is ready.

We have about +10C in Helsinki area, rainshowers during the day and right now the sun is with us. Still some snow in the corner of the yard so natural cooler is ready :o)
Bucharest has got over +30C, enjoy it!

For the old stories about the Finnish carneval of the spring, check out the Wappu stories...

Kirkasta Wappua meille kaikille!

It's Wappu - Vappu in Finland, the Queen's Day in Holland and 10.000 visitors!

Firstly, I would like to say I am veeeery happy to thank you for a BIG milestone you have granted me: 10.000 visits since January 2010. ISO kiitos luottamuksesta - BIG thank you for the confidence - Gracias por su visita - Tack för besöket etc.!!!

Tomorrow is THE carneval evening of the year in Finland. I seem to have been pretty good in writing about Vappu, Wappu or what the heck you wanna call it every year since I started the blog. You can check them out from here.

Part of Wappu fun is the decoration and funny clothes or items in the outfit. Or what do you think about the following...

For the ones enjoying the fabulous Queen's Day, have a blast and do not fall into the canals! Even though they are more clean than the water in the market place dock in Helsinki during the Wappu.

Eli Helsingin Kauppatorin Kolera-altaassa ei ole kovin mukavaa uida vappuna. Kuulemma. Näin on yksi sitä kokeillut henkilö referoinut. Vai mitä tykkäätte tästä Wapun jälkeen otetusta kuvasta...

Please do take care of the trash during the carneval both in Finland and Holland - Helsinki and Amsterdam, as I HATE to see our port looking like above!
...sorry J!

Hauskaa Wappua - Have a great Queen's Day!

Stay tuned, I'll try to post more stuff along the way. Keep dry - from outside - and have fun!!!

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...