Traditions

• Finland
• The Netherlands
• Poland

Vappu

Vappu aka May Day is a traditional spring festival celebrated in many countries and it is a public holiday in Finland. The name Vappu comes from the Saint Walburga from the 8th Century who was canonized on the 1st of May. Vappu was celebrated by lighting up bonfires to drive away the bad spirits in the past. The traditions reach far into the Middle Ages as a pagan festival, but nowadays Vappu is associated more with the coinciding Labor Day, celebrated on the 1st of May as well. (Vappu Wikipedia, 2013.)

Vappu in Jyväskylä
In Jyväskylä there are some traditions. The main one of them being the 1st of May’s Vappu picnic on Harju, where all student association gather to enjoy each others company, music provided by a variety of performers playing on the spot, and of course, to drink sparkling wine and to eat their self brought picnic food. It’s also a tradition that a group of old cars drive by the Harju’s city side.

Juhannus

Midsummer is a main national holiday in Finland. Originally a celebration of the summer solstice, it is typically spent with friends and family at a summer cottage away from the city, either partying or relaxing.

Midsummer is often seen as the beginning of warm summer weather and many Finns start their summer holidays on Midsummer Eve. Taking place at the end of June, the Midnight Sun is a key element in the festivities in the northern parts of Finland. Not that it gets dark in the south, either; nights are white throughout the country.

Ystävänpäivä

When the whole world is celebrating love Finland has it’s unique interpretation of the 14th of February. Valentine’s Day in Finland is celebrated as Ystävänpäivä, Friend’s Day. Finns decided to include everybody in this day. Friends, family, neighbors, colleagues – and of course the sweethearts too! – may all receive cards, flowers and chocolates on this day.

Laskiainen

"mid-winter sliding festival"
Laskiainen is a Finnish celebration traditionally held on Shrove Tuesday. It is also associated with the Sunday preceding Shrove Tuesday, this year the 15th of February. In previous times, laskiainen was the last celebration before the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday, but these days it mainly means a day of sleigh-riding and eating laskiaispulla, a special type of bun made just for this occasion. Laskiainen is not a public holiday, however, so you’ll still have lectures!

Sauna

https://vimeo.com/106272144

Sami culture

The land of the Sami, called Sápmi in their own language (parts of it also known as ‘Lapland’), spans Arctic Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia. The Sami are one of the world’s indigenous people with their own language, culture and customs that differ from the societies around them.

Polish traditions

Polish traditions through the year include holidays, customs, superstitions, rituals and celebrations. Some are firmly rooted in the the national religion, Catholicism; others stem from pagan rites of seasons.

Drowning of Marzanna

Marzanna is a pagan springtime festival in Poland that signals the end of winter. It usually takes place on the fourth Sunday of Lent. This old custom predates Christian rites, so Marzanna is not universally observed throughout Poland, but the “drowning” of Marzanna is still conducted as a way for Poles to stay in touch with their ancient heritage and have fun with superstitions and festive traditions.

This pagan farewell-to-winter tradition occurs on Death Sunday, before Easter. An effigy of Marzanna, the goddess of the winter seasons, is taken to the riverbank and thrown in the water. Participants watch her "drown"; with the passing of Marzanna, the ills of winter are forgotten and spring can return with warm weather and natural bounty.

Wielkanoc

In Poland, Easter traditions are both symbolic and fun. Blessed food, decorated eggs, church services, Easter palms, and seasonal markets help to mark this springtime celebration of faith, joy, treasured customs, food, and family.

Lany poniedziałek/ Śmingus dyngus

Juwenlia

The ancient Polish tradition on Easter Monday, is celebrated by everyone with enthusiasm by sprinkling each other with water. Especially kids have fun this day. Some people say that by being splashed with water on Easter Monday will bring you good luck throughout the year.

Juwenalia is a student festival that occurs in May or early June. This event is marked by colorful parades, contests, games, and parties. Juwenalia is an annually anticipated event and has its roots in medieval times.

Wianki

Wianki is a pagan festival honoring the midsummer solstice. Krakow's Wianki celebrations are second to none, and they include concerts by big-name performers, fireworks displays, and an annual market.

All Saint's Day

All Saints' Day is accompanied by the beautiful tradition of decorating cemeteries with thousands of glowing candles. On this night, the worlds of the living and the dead come closer to one another. Poles honor their deceased family and friends with memories, church services, and, of course, the flickering candles that brighten graveyards all over Poland on November 1st.

St. Andrew's Day

Andrzejki, or St. Andrew's Day, is a traditional holiday that occurs on November 29th. It's an evening of superstition and fortune telling. On this night, young women can predict who they'll meet and fall in love with!

Polish weddings

Dożynki

The biggest annual farmers’ holiday is celebrated as the crowning achievement of their labour and held after all important field work has ended, and crops, especially grain crops, have been gathered.

Name day

In Poland, name days (imieniny) are widely celebrated and have traditionally been given a greater importance than birthday celebrations, particularly as one gets on in years. Printed in every local calendar, these name days represent the feast days of Catholic saints. Every day of the year is assigned two saints – one male, one female – and chances are if you share a name with a saint (as almost all Poles do), you too have a name day.