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May Day tradition in Finland
May Day is on the first of May – it’s a joyful festival in honour of the coming of spring. And it’s also a day of celebration for workers and high-school graduates. See our drink recommendations for May Day.
The Finnish word for May Day, vappu, comes from the name Walburga, translated in Finnish to Valpuri. May Day has been celebrated since the Middle Ages in remembrance of the 8th-century German nun Walburga, who was canonised as a saint. May Day – “the day of Finnish labour” – is an official flag day.
A party for working people
In the United States, the first of May – Moving Day – was a day of renewing work contracts and changing jobs. It became a day of celebration for the labour movement and a day of protests. In Finland, workers’ May Day marches have a long tradition.
May Day now
Finns traditionally celebrate May Day by visiting the May Day Market, having picnic parties with family and friends, and enjoying a festive brunch on May Day. These days, high-school graduates are particularly enthusiastic about celebrating the coming of spring. In Helsinki, student celebrations include the placing of a student cap on the Havis Amanda statue on May Day Eve and gathering in Ullanlinnanmäki park on May Day.
The hallmarks of May Day include balloons and confetti. Traditional Finnish foods include, potato salad, funnel cake and donuts, enjoyed at picnics and May Day brunches.
What drinks are a good fit for May Day?
May Day drinks are as fresh as spring itself. Sima (a fermented nonalcoholic or low-alcohol drink) and sparkling wine are May Day favourites, but other drinks also hit the spot during celebrations on May Day Eve and the day itself. After the rich flavours of winter, springtime wines and beers are characterised by their lightness.
Toasting for two from a small bottle
Sparkling wine is without a doubt the May Day wine. It’s perfect not only for toasting, but also to accompany festive meals in the spring and summer. A small bottle of sparkling wine is practical if you’re celebrating with a small group of people.
Even a 0.2-litre bottle is enough for two – and a 0.375-litre bottle has enough for a top-up for the first glass. And small bottles make it possible to enjoy champagne without paying an arm and a leg.
Sparkling wine and champagne
Sparkling wines and champagnes are all-rounders for the dining table that pair well with both sweet and savoury foods. Thanks to their versatility, they’re perennial May Day favourites. Sparkling wines and especially champagnes come in a rich range of flavours that can be combined with May Day delicacies.
Champagne is a great choice, as its traditional production method results in powerful toasted notes. Champagne can even rise above the taste of herring on May Day morning. Sparkling wines produced with the traditional method also boast a similar richness of flavour. These include Spanish cavas, French crémants and many high-quality bubblies from outside Europe.
Sweet sparkling wines from the Asti region of Italy are May Day favourites for many. They pair wonderfully with desserts – this bubbly fresh wine goes well with anything sweet.
Popular Prosecco
On May Day, you could fill your glass with Prosecco, which has become a global hit. It’s almost as if the drink was created for May Day – highly approachable, it has a fruity flavour with pear notes. Prosecco is a casual drink that’s perfect for toasting or with nibbles. Proseccos are made in Veneto, Italy.
Prosecco is a great choice for socialising, which has made it a popular choice on bar drink lists. Its approachability also makes this fruity wine an excellent choice.
With its hints of sweetness, Prosecco pairs nicely with savoury cold cuts at the dining table. The wine also goes wonderfully with fruity flavours such as melon salad. In addition, its fruitiness and smooth taste make Prosecco a nice choice for Asian dishes.
See all Proseccos
Trendy sparkling rosé wines
Pink sparkling rosé wines are a great choice for spring and summer parties. Sparkling rosé wines are produced by the classic wine countries of Europe, such as France, Italy and Spain, as well as newer winemakers in other parts of the world, such as in Australia and South Africa. Smaller wine countries – like England – also produce their own rosé bubblies. Spanish cava and French champagne come in the greatest variety of pink versions.
Sparkling rosé wines in the taste styles smooth and light as well as mellow and sweet are perfect for chill socialising. They are also just the thing for congratulatory toasts for those who don’t care for very tart and dry sparkling wines.
Crisp and fruity sparkling rosé wines are terrific all-rounders for toasts, aperitifs and light summer foods. You could also consider taking a bottle on your picnic.
Nuanced and structured sparkling rosé wines also stimulate the appetite. Their acidic structure is wonderful at the dinner table, balancing the flavours of food. You can serve these wines with festive meals in spring and summer from appetisers to dessert.
Generous and toasty sparkling rosé wines in turn are so full-bodied that they are not only perfect for toasts but also pair well with richly flavoured foods. They even go nicely with red meat.
See sparkling rosé wines
Brachetto
Brachetto is a sweeter and fizzy sparkling wine from the Brachetto d’Aqui region in Piedmont, Italy. These wines are bright red and have a very fruity aroma. The typical aromas of Brachetto are strawberry, raspberry, raisin, mead, rose, spices and lemon.
Brachetto is sweet, aromatic, low in alcohol and bright ruby red. Its acidity pleasantly balances its sweetness. Serve chilled.
Brachetto can be enjoyed with berry desserts, for example. It’s also perfect on its own for those who love sweet drinks when socialising. Also try it with savoury cheeses.
See all Brachettos
Lambrusco
The most famous wine from Emilia-Romagna in Italy is the sweetish and sparkling red Lambrusco. The red and spritzy Lambrusco is an appealing find that’s perfect as a May Day drink.
Lambruscos are medium-dry and medium-sweet – uncomplicated, lively and spritzy, low in tannin, with berry notes. Serve chilled.
The sweet cherry and raspberry aromas of Lambrusco pair well with the saltiness of blue cheese, for instance. You can find Lambruscos on the red wine shelf at Alko.
See all Lambruscos
Wheat beer
Pale wheat beer is a refreshing but characterful type of beer with a fruity flavour that hits the spot after the hearty beers of winter. You could fill your beer mug with a German-style pale weissbier – or weizen – and emphasise its fresh flavour with a slice of lemon.
Beer and sausage might sound like a cliché – but wheat beer will inspire you to feast on grilled bratwurst and homemade potato salad. It’s an unbeatable combo – even on May Day.
See all our wheat beers
See all wheat beers
Non-alcoholic beverages
The popularity of non-alcoholic wines and beers is booming. Enjoying at least some non-alcoholic drinks instead of alcoholic ones on May Day is an idea you’ll feel good about the next morning, too. Non-alcoholic sparkling wine is a May Day all-rounder. Domestic products are a delicious alternative – Finland now produces excellent non-alcoholic bubblies. They showcase flavours such as spruce shoots and currant leaves.
Non-alcoholic wines often contain sugar, so they should be enjoyed ice-cold and fresh.
