Tampere student celebrations last three weeks with over 100 events

Tampere’s student community is marking *vappu*—the Finnish spring festival—with a three-week-long series of events, reports Yle. Organised by the Tampere Student Union (TREY), the celebrations began on 14 April and will continue until May Day on 1 May.

The festival, billed as “Finland’s biggest *wappu*,” includes over 100 activities, blending playful traditions with academic culture. On a single day, events ranged from nostalgic schoolyard games to elaborate engineering student pranks.

**Playground games and adult treasure hunts**
One afternoon event, *Vika koulupäivä* (Last School Day), brought students to Sorsapuisto park for childhood games like shadow tag and rope skipping. Organised by teaching students, the alcohol-free gathering also featured a treasure hunt—though the prizes, such as spring party supplies, were aimed at adults.

For students like Emmi Nikumatti, attending daily events is part of earning the coveted *Emäteemu* title, a badge of honour for completing the *Teemunkierros* (Theme Tour) challenge. “You just have to keep going,” she said. Her favourite so far? A bus crawl through Pirkanmaa’s rural bars, organised by history students.

**Engineering pranks and Hervanta traditions**
Later, at Tampere University’s Hervanta campus, first-year engineering students showcased their *jäynät*—elaborate but good-natured pranks—judged in the *Jäynäbox* competition. The best prankster earns the first dip in the Tammerkoski river during the traditional *teekkarikaste* (engineering student baptism) on May Day.

Milla Pasonen, an environmental engineering student, admitted the festivities leave little time for studies. “Short answer: no. Long answer: well, no,” she laughed. Many students rush to finish coursework before *vappu* begins.

**Cross-disciplinary fun**
Since Tampere’s universities merged in 2019, the celebrations have expanded beyond engineering traditions. Rosa Rautiainen, TREY’s *wapputirehtööri* (vappu director), noted that events now draw students from all fields—whether for rap battles, street choir performances, or simply shared springtime revelry.