May Day

I decided not to write about music for a change.

For me, May Day will always be about two things: celebrating spring & celebrating working class. 

Czech May Day
I lived my first four years in the era of socialism. Back then, May Day was actually a Labour Day, a time to celebrate all the hard working citizens. My parents would hang Czech and Soviet flags into the windows and in the afternoon we would go out and join the huge parade that went through the city singing socialist songs (many of them Russian), celebrating not only the idea of communism but also the precious friendship of our little socialistic country and its big sister.

Everyone had to go unless they were sick. If you were a pioneer you had to dress accordingly: blue shirt, red scarf or tie.

I remember only fragments of these parades. Hundreds of people walking peacefully, festive and very socialist music playing.  I remember sitting on my father's shoulders and waving a flag or a parade stick. There was something magical about people gathering on this one day although I had no idea about the purpose.

After the Velvet revolution there have been no parades on 1st May in Czechoslovakia and later Czech republic. Most of the people are trying to wipe out some traditions that would remind them of socialistic regime. Nowadays May Day is not particularly celebrated in the Czech republic but it remains a holiday and people think of it as day of spring, flowers and freshness.

The tradition that remains is connected to spring and is kept only in the country, not in towns. People errect special decorated maypole called máje or májka. Sometimes men keep night watch because "evil" guys from another village might come and knock the maypole down. And even more interesting: boys build a maypole as a declaration of love in front of the house of their beloved. Isn't that cool? :-)
This pagan ritual is still popular in Austria, Germany and Sweden.

And there is one more tradition, connected to love: every woman should be kissed under a blossoming cherry tree. Otherwise she'll have bad luck. I wonder what feminists say to that :-)

It's a shame Czech people don't sing any songs or don't arrange picnics. They just enjoy the fact they have a day off and spend it usually with their family, doing some barbecue, minding their own business. I think they should learn something from the Scandinavian folks:


Finnish Vappu
I really like the Finnish version of May Day. I would call it a mixture of celebrating Labor Day and a Picnic / Spring Day and a Students Day :-)
That means the working class organizations have their own gatherings and people who don't care that much about the political aspect of the 1st May just go to a park and take some good food and sparkling wine with them. You can see adults hanging around wearing white caps - those are secondary school alumni. No matter how long ago they graduated, there are old grannies and middle-aged couples wearing the caps, still proud of what they accomplished when they were nineteen.

 But don't worry, you don't have to be a graduate to enjoy Vappu! With or without the "magical white cap" friends meet up and enjoy the wonderful warm 12 degrees Celsius :-) Often there is rain on 1st May (or snow) but it doesn't stop anyone, no! We all want to believe so desperately that summer is around the corner.

I did a little research and the tradition of celebrating spring on the 1st May dates back to the 8th century! No wonder, because spring is a big deal in Finland. By 1st May snow has hopefully melted away and after six months of winter we feels such joy from being able to sit on the grass that words can't describe it. Of course it's wise not to sit directly on the grass because the ground is still freezing cold but these are things many people happily ignore as they warm themselves internally with different potions ;-) and of course they warm each other because Vappu is a good excuse to be hugging people publicly.

Finns even have a traditional snack (tippaleipä) and beverage (sima) that belong to Vappu celebration.

Finnish Vappu reminds me of my childhood and the socialistic parades because there are so many people in the streets and parks. It's definitely a day to be enjoyed!

In fact in Finland we start celebrating the evening before, on 30th April, and this year is not an exception. I will be guest-singing with Jaakko Laitinen & Väärä Raha again. The concert will be in Dubrovnik club, Helsinki. If you're around here, don't forget to join us! These boys just know how to give people good music and great party.

Happy Labour Day!
Hauskaa vappua!
Klara Vappen!
Čus bus, 1. máj! :-)