Hauskaa Vappua!

The May Day has been warm and sunny in Tampere, some +10c and hard wind from north-west. It is essential to know as....

....After waking up and having breakfast at home, we had May Day brunch with my mother, till it was time to leave to city centre, where first-year students of Tampere University of Technology are annualy dipped in Tammerkoski rapids.
The idea is dip all first year students of this university into the rapids - so that they may carry the white hat with black tuft. More of this university in this link...

This year one of our familyfriends was one of the 1st year students (learning electricity) and in the photo on the left side of the rapid. He is waiting for his turn - wearing blue hauler, as rest of his department. The water in the rapids is of course quite cold (maybe +4c) as the lakes have just got free from the ice. The dipped students normally have celebrated 1-2 weeks before the happening and after dipping they go to sauna and celebrate some more. Fortunately the next exam week starts on next monday... ;-)

As you can see, this is very popular event in Tampere - there is thousands of people watching dipping and many of the people have picnic-food and some champange and blankets etc with them. As our friends did, and invited us there too. Most of them have white cap, a sing of craduate from upper secondary school/ high school.
The May Day is a national free day in Finland and it is the day as we finns really have the carnival: Vappu - The May Day - is special day for kids, for students, for labour and all the rest of the people can celebrate the spring, or just free time.... The main street of Tampere, Hameenkatu, is closed during this dipping event, as the city centre is so growded. few more photos here.

Thanks for your kind comments and chatting yesterday. So nice of you!
I catch you later as I now have to go out and enjoy the May Day happening of our own housing company. Some of the 9-years old girls and their parents have invided us to the outdoor party and there will be some Sima to drink and maybe some buns too :-)

Have a nice May Day all - Hauskaa Vappua kaikille!