Helga´s 8 Day May Day
Why is Helga’s 8 Day May Day organized?
What is Wappu?
May Day is celebrated annually on 1st of May and marks the end of winter. It is also celebrated as International Labour Day and is one of Finland’s largest festivals alongside Midsummer and Christmas.
The Finnish twist for the May celebrations developed as engineering students celebrated at midnight on 30th of April while rocking their traditional white caps. This method has now become known all over Finland, which has led to celebrations in cities with a large student population.
The festivities begin in Helsinki at 6 p.m. 30th of April, where students gather at the Market Square to wash the statue of a naked woman named Havis Amanda before putting a white cap on her head.
On 1st of May, students and graduates will lead a procession through Helsinki, which will end with large outdoor picnics in the city’s parks. Mead, donuts and sima are traditional delicacies today.
What is Helga’s 8 Day May Day?
Helga’s 8 Day May Day is an annual 15-day event that culminates on 1st of May in Kaivopuisto, where Helga distributes the coverall patches and Wappu diplomas to the participants. Helga’s 8 Day May Day is organized in co-operation with Haaga-Helia’s student associations, and this is why events can be found in both Helsinki and Porvoo.
Helga’s 8 Day May Day name has remained unchanged even while the events (and at the same time days) increase over time. Each day has its own theme as well as its own event. As part of May Day, Helga is organizing the Coverall Baptism as well as the actual May Day event in 1. May with other student unions. Helga also coordinates the 8 Day May Day as a whole, so that each Haaga-Helia association has its own event day, to which all Haaga-Helia students are welcome!
8 Day May Day’s official tags, hashes and hashtags are #Helga8Wappu and #wabueilobu as many of our students already know!
How can one participate in Helga’s 8 Day May Day?
You can participate in the event by redeeming a Wappu pass and attending various May Day events with it. Every event is marked on the Wappu pass and when participating in the event, the student asks for a stamp on their Wappu pass to mark their participation. With 6 stamps collected, the student can redeem a Wappu coverall patch 1st of May from Helga’s checkpoint. There are 4 coverall patches based on different years of performance. The coverall patches consist of one large ensemble to the coveralls. Students who collect the stamp of each event in their Wappu pass will be awarded with the Wappu diploma.
Some events are free and some may incur additional charges. Helga’s Coverall Baptism and the May Day in 1st of May, as well as Helga’s 8 Day Wappu coverall patch belong to Wappu pass. What comes to the actual student associations day’s, the event may be free and the event’s coverall patch paid, or the event may be fully chargeable.
Each participant is asked to be considerate
Like all the other Helga events, Helga’s 8 Day May Day is free of harassment and bullying. This means that any kind of harassment, bullying, humiliating or other inappropriate behavior is not acceptable. If you see or meet any inappropriate behavior we ask you to contact us or the events harassment contact persons. Helga’s events also have event-specific harassment contact persons that you can contact. Also, the members of the Haaga-Helia associations have been trained to assist in such activities.
We wish a joyful Wappu to everyone!
Helga’s 8 Day May Day 2025
WHAT WAS THIS 8 DAY MAY DAY AGAIN?
Streak of student events usually 10-15 days but this year 16 days! Helga’s Wappu is done together with Haaga-Helia’s associations. Each association has its own event date. The events are meant for Haaga-Helia’s students and members of other cooperating student unions.
Helga will produce a wappu pass for the events. The idea behind the wappu pass is to offer its holders cheaper access to the events.. At the end of the wappu, the participant will be awarded a patch based on their wappu pass if they have collected at least 6 stamps. If the participant has collected all the stamps, they will receive a diploma in addition to the patch.
Each association is free to determine the price of its own event, but it needs to have a member and non-member price. A student with a wappu pass and / or membership in the association will receive a membership priced ticket. A student who does not have a wappu pass or association membership will receive a non-member ticket price.
Good to know about Helga’s membership:
As a member of Helga, you get the wappu pass for half price! Did you also know that with a longer membership you get coveralls for free. You can buy Helga’s membership here: https://kide.app/en/community/af08e27e-2fcc-4cdb-990f-ad37c9dac9c4
Wappu passes are on sale Kide.app starting from March 17th and can be collected from Helga Point before wappu or during wappu from the events until Coverallbaptism. In addition separate tickets will be available for the events.
- Wappu Pass VIP (Includes Wappu Pass, Coverall baptism ticket+ afterparty) For Helga members, € 15. Non-members, € 30
- Wappu Pass only € 8 for members and € 16 for non-members
You will get the pass from Helga’s board members from Helga Point, Helga Popup Point or at the Helga’s 8 Day May Day events before 26.4. Notice that we only give passes at the begin of the events.
All the Wappu events
16.4. Atkins – LVL UP Appro
17.4. IDS – Banana Carnival
19.4. Game On
20.4. Sture – Kallion Korkkaus
21.4. Talko – Mushroom Hunt
22.4. Pore – Gastro Appro
23.4. Helga x Laureamko – Coverall Babtism
24.4 Skuuppi – Fotoralli
25.4. Hepo – The Task Porvoo
26.4. ESN – Operation Suomenlinna
27.4. HSOY – Paluu Pelikentille
28.4. Hattara – RunAwayTrain
29.4. Tahkon Talli – Pihkalan Pesäjuoksu
30.4. Helga – WappuFutis
1.5. Kaivarin Wappu
How do I get more information about the events?
Follow Helga and the association’s social media accounts on Instagram! (Every association’s Instagram is linked to the list of the events).
Accessibility:
If you have any concerns regarding accessibility please contact us via: julia.wolff@helga.fi so we can help you.
Personal assistants will always have a chance to join for free to our events.
About safety:
All Helga events follow the principles of a safer space, which all ticket buyers commit to. The event also has personal harassment contact persons, whose contact information is visible on the event map. You can identify the harassment contact persons by a chest strap that they wear in the event and their pictures are published on Helga’s social media before Freshers’ Day. You can also contact the harassment contact persons via the form at the end of this page: https://helga.fi/palvelusi/asiantuntija-apu/#mika-mattaa
Safer space rules
Be open
Meet new topics and individuals without prejudice, take everything that comes and the situation as an opportunity to learn new things and develop
Respect
Give others space, pay attention to your choice of words, and remember the diversity of event participants
Don’t assume
Respect everyone’s right to self-determination and do not make assumptions about, for example, the gender, background or family relationships of others
Intervene
If you witness harassment or other inappropriate treatment, do not remain silent
Encourage
Take responsibility for the experience of other participants. Listen and cheer.
Relax
Mistakes and questions are allowed.
NEED HELP OR CLARIFICATION?
If you want you can also contact our vice-chairperson (can be as CC too) or specialist:
Jasmin Tuominen (vc)
Julia Wolff (specialist)