Introduction
Vappu is a one of the craziest festivals I have ever witnessed. Every May 1, Finns celebrate "students day", and everyone gathers in heart of Helsinki to put a students cap on the head of the Mermaid statue! When the cap goes on, every Finn who has ever graduated from high school (virtually everybody!) puts on their old student cap and wears it proudly for the next 24 hours. A period which involves heavy partying!! Vappu Day is best known for its picnic at Kaivopuisto, a parks that is just in front of our apartment. More thatn 10,000 people gather in the park for a picnic. Paola and I were joined our Italian friends, Matteo and Diletta, Federico, Francesco, Guido and Silvia, as well as our Finnish "interpreter" Johanna. And Stanley, of course!!
