VAPPU/FIRST OF MAY - MAY DAY!

Helsingin Sanomat International Edition will not have a separate edition on Tuesday, May 1st, which is celebrated as a national holiday.
      While the actual holiday is on Tuesday, the celebrations got into full swing already Monday afternoon, April 30th, Vappuaatto, or May Eve. In fact, there were indications that some revelers took a head start already at the weekend.
     
Public transport will observe normal Friday schedules on Monday, but the Helsinki Metro will continue to operate two hours later than usual. Several bus lines will have extra departures.
      On Tuesday, the Metro, local rail services, and buses in Helsinki will observe Saturday schedules, but tram services and U-line regional buses will operate on Sunday schedules.
     
Food stores will stay open on Monday through 6:00 PM. Most food stores will remain closed on Tuesday, except smaller grocery stores around Helsinki as well as food stores in the Kamppi Center and the Railway Station tunnel.
      Alko liquor stores will be open until 6:00 PM on Monday and will be closed on Sunday. Banks are open normally on Monday and are closed on Tuesday.
     
For more detailed information of what is open and what is not, we recommend checking with the various services and businesses on line. Those going downtown Monday evening and Tuesday during the day can expect big crowds, and are likely to notice that the concept “party spirit” is not just a metaphor.
     
Weather is expected to be sunny throughout the country on Tuesday, although the forecast is not for especially warm conditions: temperatures in Helsinki are not expected to go very much above 10 degrees Celsius.


See also:
  An article from 2000 explains the basic idea of the Vappu celebration (3.5.2000)
  A more comprehensive list of the relatively simple timetable and opening-hour arrangements for this year´s Vappu in Finnish (get a friend to help you)

Links:
  Helsinki Region Transport HSL
  VR, Finnish Railways
  Vappu in Finland (Wikipedia)
  Havis Amanda (Wikipedia)