May Day

📣 Traveler notes

Finland features vast, undeveloped nature, including 188,000 lakes and an equivalent number of islands. The geography extends into the Arctic, offering opportunities to view the Northern Lights and the Midnight Sun. Rovaniemi includes a popular Santa Claus themed park.

• Vappu, the major public celebration, occurs around April 30–May 1, drawing large crowds into the streets.
• Many Finns prefer to celebrate holidays privately with family rather than at large public carnivals.
• Appointments may require significant wait times due to registration procedures.
• Silence in conversation is generally considered normal and should not be misinterpreted as displeasure.
• A standard handshake is the expected greeting.
• Shoes must be removed upon entering private residences.
• Punctuality is highly valued, requiring apologies or texts if delays occur. Finns are generally direct and value honesty; overt compliments may be uncommon. A standard handshake is customary when meeting people; removal of shoes is mandatory when visiting private homes. Maintain a distance of about 1.2 meters from strangers.