Vappu - One Day When Hoomans Turn into Dogs

Today is this one day here in Finland when hoomans go crazy. Yes, my furry friends, once a year they become us. Literally! They gather in huge packs, roam the streets, drink buckets of smelly water, get naked, swim in this fountain, put a graduation cap on this statue and... they can pee and poo right on the streets of Helsinki city centre. All for this one night, and then they go back to being reserved and boring selves for the rest of the year.

The celebration is called Vappu (Vahp-poo). See, it’s all in the name! I wish.

Actually, it is a simplified version of the name Walpurga. This hoowooman was a saint living in the 8th century. She was born in Devon, England. (Hi, my English friends!) She studied medicine in Germany and became a skilful healer there. (Hi, my German friends!) She was so smart, that she learned how to protect hoomans from the witchcraft even. Walpurga was canonized on the 1st of May 870. Hence the Walpurgis night and feast on 30th of April on Walpurga’s Day Eve. Hoomans praise the saint and ask her to protect them from evil. (It comes very handy, especially on this day, which is also Beltane’s Eve in heathenism, and an odd fairy or two might escape and do hoomans some harm.)

Back to our Vappu, which is a combination of good old and new. One night in 1920-s, on a Vappu Eve, a group of high school students, who just celebrated their graduation too thoroughly, went to this fountain, swam in it, climbed the statue and put their white graduation cap on it. It was fun! Since then all the Vappu celebrations have been centred around this poor statue.

Introducing Havis Amanda - the statue is actually something French in the middle of Helsinki, Finland, my furry friends. (Hi, my French friends!) Central hoowooman figure (modelled by a French hoowooman in Paris!) is rising from the sea, it symbolises the birth of Helsinki no less. Havis Amanda by Finnish sculptor Ville Vallgren, unveiled in 1908. The sculpture was completed and cast in bronze in Paris in 1906. Psst... the French wanted to keep it for themselves after they saw it... Hoomans were critical about this sculpture at first. They thought it is inappropriate to be naked, you know. Weird creatures.

But all this is the info for your hoomans. What is in it for us?

Havis Amanda, TIPS FOR DOGS. We can drink in a company of the bronze seals. Or spill it out - your choice. Water is a bit far away, but with a little persistence you can do it!

Do you know WHO ELSE DRANK FROM THIS FOUNTAIN in the year 1964? They were GIGANTIC!!! We are in a good company!

Have fun today, my friends!

Luff,

xoxo Skye