President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb and his spouse Suzanne Innes-Stubb received May Day greetings in the courtyard of the Presidential Palace on Wednesday 1 May 2024.
The event began on a sunny weather with Linn Linqvist, 13, Céline Isaksson, 10 and Livia Isaksson, 8, presenting the presidential couple with the Mayflower charity pin of Folkhälsan. The Swedish-speaking civil society organization uses the proceeds from the Mayflower fundraising campaign to promote the health and well-being of children and young people.
This year, the musical greeting of Suomen Työväen Musiikkiliitto (STM, Finnish Workers’ Music Federation) was brought by the brass band of Sibelius-opisto music institute in Hämeenlinna. The band played the pieces Tampu-sampa and Finem Lauda, led by conductors Anni Ollila-Nordström and Jenni Hiipakka. The greetings from STM were presented by Marja Tuohimaa, member of STM’s board of directors.
Led by Pasi Hyökki, the YL Male Voice Choir with 40 singers performed the songs Ylioppilaslaulu and Elli Dunbar. Risto Karinkanta, chair of the Student Union of the University of Helsinki, presented the student union’s greetings. University students have been bringing their May Day greetings to the President of the Republic of Finland since the 1950s.
After the musical performances, the students of Aalto University presented the presidential couple with a copy of Wappulehti Julkku, the May Day comic magazine.
