A student's May Day (Vappu) in Jyväskylä can include rowing, yoga or even theatre - introducing three different May Day events

Image

However, the students' May Day does not start on 30 April, but a week earlier on 24 April at 20.00, when the Student Union of the University of Jyväskylä will play the May Day announcement (Vappukuulutus!) from the Harju Tower. This is the Student Union's first May announcement, but it looks like a new tradition is emerging!

In addition to the big events, various student organisations are organising a whole range of events around the city in the run-up to May. Here are three examples!

Jyväspeksi

"Omstart in German!", someone shouts from the audience, and the language on stage changes on the fly. "Omstart in cold!", and suddenly one character or another is struck by a severe cold. The improvisation lasts for a short while, after which the performers return to the scripted plot.

It is a spectacle, a theatrical performance combining live music, dance and interaction with the audience. Each production is the creation of the people behind the spectacle, from script to choreography, from make-up to marketing.

JyväSpeksi, based at the University of Jyväskylä, prides itself on its interdisciplinary nature, with more than 90 students from different disciplines participating in the production each year. In addition to the annual production, JyväSpeksi organises various student events and improvisational theatre.

JyväSpeksi's performance season takes place around April each year. The spring performance is planned early in the previous autumn to allow time for group work and careful preparation.

This spring's Jyväspeksi tells the story of Queen Kristiina's youth in the 17th century. Directors Ida Hiillos and Siiri Nieminen and producers Camilla Boman and Helka Soini promise the audience a show whose themes were relevant 400 years ago and are still relevant today.

– Our production features a history student who is well versed in these topics. We chose historical events for the script that made you think, oh, this really happened. Then we played around a bit with what could have happened in between," says Boman.

The JyväSpeks performances will continue in week 16 at the university's C building. Next autumn, university students will have the opportunity to get involved in JyväSpeks!

Tourusoutu

The University of Jyväskylä used to have a campus in the Tourula district, where students of communication and journalism studied. The students have since moved to Seminaarinmäki, but every May Day they return to Tourujoki to test each other's rowing skills.

The event is organised by Parku ry, a student organisation for communication students, and Lööppi ry, a student organisation for journalism students. The concept is clear: the team jumps into a boat at a predetermined location, rows under the Tourula bridge and touches a bottle hanging from the bridge. Once this is done, the team has to row back to the starting point as quickly as possible.

However, the Tourusoutua is not necessarily won by the fastest team, but the jury also takes into account good team spirit and the inventiveness of the race costumes. The winning team will be rewarded with the contents of a bottle hanging from a bridge and, of course, the right to brag about their success until the next Tourusoutu.

According to Hilla Järvinen, President of the Parku Association, the Tourusoutu has established itself as a May Day tradition precisely because of its quirkiness. It has become an event that even former Parku residents and people from the local press want to attend.

It is also strange how a bunch of university students manage to get enough rowing boats for their event every year.
- In the end, they always end up finding them from a cousin or neighbour," Järvinen reveals.
Tourusoutu is followed by Touruappro, which tours the stalls of Tourula and collects stamps for approps. This year, Tourusoutu and Touruappro will take place on 20 April.

May Day yoga

Last year, students of social and health services at Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences found that a little relaxation could be good for many people between May Day celebrations. So their student organisation, JASTO ry, set up an May Day yoga session, which will be continued this year.

The 45-minute yoga classes take place in the gym of the Rajakatu campus and are led by an occupational therapy student with a background in yoga. Sanni Karjalainen, President of JASTO, stresses that the event is open to all levels of yoga practitioners and students from all disciplines. Participants will not only have access to yoga mats, but also to blankets to warm up under.

Each of JAMK's student associations will organise one event during the May Week and will also take part in the marathon sessions organised by the student union. Karjalainen recommends that even during the May Day holiday, students stick to the basics of wellbeing.
- Remember to drink water and eat well. Picnics are the best, and you can even have them indoors. Hanging out with friends is also important. And sleep!

JASTO is also prepared for the fact that many students may need a little rest after the holidays. That's why they, Interventio ry and the trade union Talentia are organising a wellness event on 2 May, with activities such as stretching and nail-polishing.
May Day Yoga will take place on 25 April and you can buy a ticket on the Kide.app.