Presidential couple to receive traditional May Day greetings

Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
Press release 14/2023
27 April 2023

President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö and his spouse Jenni Haukio will receive the traditional May Day greetings on Monday, 1 May 2023 in the courtyard of the Presidential Palace in Helsinki.

The event starts at 10.50 a.m. with the reception of the Mayflower. The Mayflower is a charity pin sold by school children as part of an annual nationwide fundraising organized by Folkhälsan, a civil society organization. The proceeds of the fundraising will be used to promote health and safety of children and young people.

After that, the Presidential couple will be greeted by the Finnish Workers’ Music Federation. This year, the musical salute will be performed by the Rauma Youth Band, a member orchestra of the Federation. The event will end with the traditional greetings presented by the Student Union of the University of Helsinki and the YL Male Voice Choir at 11.30 a.m.

The public is welcome to follow the event from the Market Square and Pohjois Esplanadi (weather permitting).

The reception of the May Day greetings at the Presidential Palace was last held in 2019. During the coronavirus pandemic, the Presidential couple received May Day greetings virtually.