Vappu - the Finnish Purim

The title is misleading, as Finland does not celebrate Purim or otherwise officially appreciate the stories why Purim is celebrated. But right now, I am merely referring to the general festival atmosphere that takes over Finland on May Day, much like Israel goes costumes in Purim.

I've seen a glimpse of Purim in Eilat, when I found it amusing that the sales person in GAP was wearing Mickey Mouse ears. Funny. The Finnish Vappu is also about getting your masquerade gear on, buying helium-filled balloons, loud plastic whistles or horns, wearing wigs and whatnot. The tivoli is in town, fixed amusement parks open their doors, the summer is on the brink.

Unlike Purim, the Finnish Vappu has no official root in any religion or bible - albeit its name is derived nowadays from a German abbess. It used to be, once again, a pagan party that over the years evolved in Finland to the working class' day to celebrate in quite formal settings, until the public and especially students adopted it and turned it to an excuse to get wasted.

I can think of two Jewish holidays that in some sort encourage to consume alcohol: one of them indeed is Purim, and the other one is Passover. A lot of cups of wine involved in both of them. Finns don't need Talmud or any other formal reason to get wasted - it is enough to find a reason or to make up one.

The church has never been a source or inspiration for the use of spiritus fortus, except the tiny shot of wine given at communion. In fact, none of the main Finnish drinking festivals can be associated with today's religious holidays: I already explained what's behind May Day, and another time when only a handful of people would be in driving condition in Finland is Midsummer in June, which is originally a pagan festivity (and later moved by the church to the birthday of John - Johannes - which explains the Finnish name Juhannus for the party). The ancient Finns, however, did believe that being drunk and noisy in Midsummer will drive bad spirits away - and still implement this belief in practice.

Whatever the reason, I'm sure both countries host a nice carnival feeling whether it is Vappu or Purim. What you can count on in Vappu is that the weather will be crap. Nonetheless, I've got my costume ready for tomorrow :-).

And PS. isn't it a bit disturbing how many pagan festivals the Christian belief has just adopted and/or moved and turned Christian?