Spring in Finland: 8 Ways Locals Know Spring Is in the Air
Spring in Finland is something special.
After a long, dark winter, with months of snow, ice and slippery sidewalks, we can finally start spotting sure signs of spring.
This year, our toddler turned two years old, and spotting all the signs of spring together has been such a joy.
She’s eager to repeat everything we say and has learned so many new words, like flower, airplane, dog, and tree. We’ve been so impressed by how quickly she’s picked up new words in both Finnish and Swedish!
In this post I’m sharing 8 signs of spring in Finland that locals, especially families with young kids, look forward to every year.
1. The Light Returns After a Long Dark Winter
One of the best signs of spring in Finland is when the sun starts coming back.
After a long, dark winter, the days slowly get longer.
At first, it’s just a little bit, maybe the sun is up when you wake up. Then one day, you notice it’s still light outside after dinner!
The sunshine feels warm and golden, and it seems to make everyone happier.
People go outside more, smile more, and spend extra time at the park or on walks. It’s like the whole country is waking up after a big winter nap.
In our family, we always notice how much more energy we have once the light returns.
It means more time to play outside, more adventures after daycare, and that spring is really here.
The sun makes everything feel fresh and new again.
2. Vappu Celebrations (May Day)
Vappu, or May Day, is one of Finland’s most beloved spring celebrations.
Vappu is held on May 1st, and marks both International Workers’ Day and the unofficial start of spring.
The white graduation cap is a sign of celebration and tradition, and you’ll see people of all ages wearing them at park picnics and market squares all over the country during Vappu.
In Helsinki, crowds usually gather at Kaivopuisto Park with blankets and a wide variety of different picnic foods. Some people really go all out with this.
In other parts of the country, celebrations are typically organized at city squares with balloons, bouncy castles, and stalls filled with treats.
Traditional Vappu treats you’ll see everywhere are
- sima (homemade mead),
- munkki (sugar coated doughnuts), and
- tippaleipä (crispy funnel cakes).
These are easy to find pre-made in supermarkets all over Finland.
For us, Vappu is the first big moment of the season when we celebrate outdoors as a family.
3. First Ice Cream Outside (Preferably On A Terrace)
When the temperature finally starts to rise above 0°C, you’ll see Finns rushing out of the local supermarket with their first ice cream of the year in hand.
The first ice cream of spring is a small but meaningful cultural moment.
Especially outside of Helsinki, along the roadsides of longer highways, you’ll also start spotting ice cream vans offering soft serve cones.
When I still lived in Western Finland as a child, this was the official start of spring.
Springtime also brings back the iconic blue ice cream truck, which you can spot in cities all over Finland. You’ll hear the blue truck before you see it!
A soft jingle in the distance, growing louder as the truck turns the corner.
Kids from all around the block start running after the truck with some change, and families buy big packs of ice cream to stock in their freezers.
4. Spotting Wildflowers
Violets, coltsfoot, wood anemone start popping up along the forest floors and roadsides in Finland.
We love to go on forest walks as a family and spot the prettiest flowers as they sprout.
It’s a simple, but special spring tradition.
We like to leave the flowers in their natural setting, taking photos instead of picking them up.
Walking through the forest and watching the flowers bloom feels like nature’s way of welcoming spring.
It’s a perfect way to embrace the changing season with your little ones!
5. Listening for Spring Birds
As the snow melts and the days grow longer, the birds who migrated to warmer places for the winter start making their way back to Finland.
Spotting returning birds is almost a national pastime for Finns.
The wagtail, in particular, is considered a sure sign that spring is really here.
Here in the southern part of Finland, we live right by the sea, so for us, the return of the seagulls is one of the clearest signs of spring.
We love taking little walks through the local forests and along the seaside, keeping our eyes and ears open for returning birds and other signs of nature waking up.
Binoculars make it even more fun, especially for kids!
One of our favorites is a rare grey heron who occasionally visits our local forest. It always feels like a special kind of spring magic when we spot him.
6. Returning to the Summer Cottage
Many Finns return to their summer cottages in early spring to do some clearing and airing out of their cabins.
In Finland having a summer cottage isn’t only for the super wealthy, but regular families have them too.
Finnish summer cottages are quite rugged, and usually not the prettiest sight.
It’s a national joke, that the summer cottage is mainly a work camp, where clearing and fixing never ends.
But, at the end of the day, a summer cottage provides that peaceful nature connection, where we’re able visit the sauna, make a simple meal, and then sit by the water and just be.
Summer cottage life in Finland is slow living at it’s finest!
7. Opening the Outdoor Toy Box
After the snow melts in spring, kids in Finland like drag out their scooters, chalk, skipping ropes, and bubble wands.
Suddenly, the yard or courtyard becomes a hive of activity again.
Spotting all the neighborhood kids practicing and riding their little bikes is also a sure sign that spring has arrived.
It’s that first afternoon where play starts to spill outside and lasts until dinner, even sometimes with winter coats and overalls still on.
8. Watching for Street Sweepers
Seeing the street sweepers come through your neighborhood is a real spring milestone in Finland.
They sweep up the gravel that has been put down during winter to prevent people from slipping on ice.
Kids love watching the big machines whirl past, and parents breathe a sigh of relief that spring is really here.
After a long, gritty winter, the city streets start to shine again.
Now they will become a clean canvas for chalk art and hopscotch.
Spring in Finland: 8 Things Every Local Looks Forward to in Springtime
I hope you enjoyed reading our list of signs of spring in Finland!
I’d love to hear what signs of spring you and your family look forward to where you live.
Let me know in the comments!
