A hotel for Amanda

Some of you might have wondered where Havis Amanda suddenly went. Around her fountain between Esplanadi and Kauppatori a black container has been errected and there is no sign of the statue.

This container is a project of the Japanese artist Tatzu Nishi and is part of the Helsinki Festival. It's called Hotel Manta and it actually is a real hotel. With just one room though. And the middle of this room is formed by Havis Amanda. Till October 12 the hotel is already fully booked and unfortunately there is no chance anymore for you to spend one night in the same room with the famous statue.

You can however visit the hotel during the day. Every day from 11.30 till 17.30 the hotel opens for visitors. For an entrance fee of 3 euros you can see the interiour and how Havis Amanda has been integrated into it. To get a first impression of Nashi's installation you can also have a first peek at the pictures by MTV3.

Mantan Lakitus

Today Vappu starts with Mantan Lakitus when the Hagis Amanda statue at Kauppatori gets her vappu cap. At 18:00 a group of students will lower the white cap onto the statue as the opening of the Vappu celebration.

You should definitely come there and see this spectacle that gathers a huge audience every year. Who ever has one brings their own white cap to the celebration to put it on and wave it at the time when Hagis Amanda gets hers. 

Remember to be there early (at least 30 min) if you want to get a good spot. And maybe bring an umbrella with you. The weather might not be as good as last week.

Hauskaa vappua!

A cap for Amanda

Vappu is about to start. One very important part of the celebration is Mantan Lakitus. But what is that and what happens there?

Every year at April 30th (tomorrow!) the students of Helsinki come to the fountain at Kauppatori where they give the white student’s cap to the Havis Amanda Statue. It is a special honor to be chosen for this very special event. In the old days the students used to climb up the statue to put the cap on top of the woman’s head. At some point the city forbid that to avoid damage for the fountain. Nowadays a crane lowers a group of students from above down to the statue. Before Havis Amanda (or Manta) gets her cap the statue is being washed by the students. At 6 p.m. the cap will then be put in place. This is then also the sign for everyone around to start wearing their hats (it’s not allowed before).

Mantan lakitus has a long tradition and is really worth watching. It is recommendable to be there an hour early if you want to see something.