1998 Europa - National Festivals - Finland 22.3.1998

Each year, the European postal administrations issue EUROPA stamps under a common theme. “Public festivals”   was the theme chosen for 1998. The Finnish EUROPA stamps are dedicated to celebrations of spring and summer, Labor Day and Midsummer. The stamps, with a face value of FIM 3.20 and 3.40, respectively, were designed by Mika Launis. The exuberant, romantic stamps were issued on March 27th.

Labor Day is the traditional day of celebration for workers and students, and marks the beginning of springtime in northern countries. Through the years it has become a carnival for the entire population, the most boisterous of all annual festivities.

While they celebrate Labor Day in hearts of cities, in streets, on squares and in restaurants, Finns think that Midsummer is best celebrated in the country, preferably surrounded by nature, on a lake shore, in the light and heat of a bonfire, just as the couple depicted on the stamp. According to popular belief, there is magic and romance in this, the longest and brightest day of the year.

Thank you My Dear Pia for this wonderful  and cheerful  FDC. Eating and Drinking can be fun. Yes. Really!