International Workers' Day is the commemoration of the 1886 Haymarket affair in Chicago. The police were trying to disperse a public assembly during a general strike for the eight-hour workday, when an unidentified person threw a bomb at them. The police reacted by firing on the workers, killing four demonstrators. "Reliable witnesses testified that all the pistol flashes came from the center of the street, where the police were standing, and none from the crowd. Moreover, initial newspaper reports made no mention of firing by civilians. A telegraph pole at the scene was filled with bullet holes, all coming from the direction of the police
In 1889, the first congress of the Second International, meeting in Paris for the centennial of the French Revolution and the Exposition Universelle, following a proposal by Raymond Lavigne, called for international demonstrations on the 1890 anniversary of the Chicago protests May Day was formally recognized as an annual event at the International's second congress in 1891.[citation needed]
Subsequently, the May Day Riots of 1894 occurred. In 1904, the International Socialist Conference meeting in Amsterdam called on "all Social DemocraticParty organizations and trade unions of all countries to demonstrate energetically on May First for the legal establishment of the 8-hour day, for the class demands of the proletariat, and for universal peace." The congress made it "mandatory upon the proletarian organizations of all countries to stop work on May 1, wherever it is possible without injury to the workers.
In many countries, the working classes sought to make May Day an official holiday, and their efforts largely succeeded. May Day has long been a focal point for demonstrations by various socialist, communist and anarchist groups. In some circles[which?], bonfires are lit in commemoration of the Haymarket martyrs, usually at dawn. May Day has been an important official holiday in countries such as the People's Republic of China, North Korea, Cuba and the former Soviet Union. May Day celebrations typically feature elaborate popular and military parades in these countries[citation needed].
In the United States and Canada, however, the official holiday for workers is Labor Day in September. This day was promoted by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor, who organized the first parade in New York City. After the Haymarket Massacre, US President Grover Cleveland feared that commemorating Labor Day on May 1 could become an opportunity to commemorate the affair. Thus he moved in 1887 to support the Labor Day that the Knights supported.
In 1955, the Catholic Church dedicated May 1 to "Saint Joseph The Worker". The Catholic Church considers Saint Joseph the patron saint of (among others) workers and craftsmen. Far-right governments have traditionally sought to repress the message behind International Workers' Day, with fascist governments in Portugal, Italy, Germany and Spain abolishing the workers' holiday. 1 May in the US is celebrated as Loyalty Day.
Argentina
In Argentina, Workers' Day is an official holiday. Even when it is associated with labor unions, essentially all workers tend to respect it. During the day, many celebrations related to the labor movements take place, including demonstrations in the biggest cities. It is also customary to organize meetings at friends' places, at the sports associations, at the workplace, or at the labor unions for typically local food, usually locro or asado.
The first Workers' Day celebration was in 1890, when Argentinean unions, controlled in those days by socialists and anarchists, organized several joint celebrations at Buenos Aires and other cities, at the same time that the international labor movement celebrated it for the first time. In 1909, the police killed nine workers during the Workers' Day celebration in Buenos Aires, in what was the first social massacre of Argentine modern history.
In 1930, it was established as official holiday by the first democratic president, the radical Hipólito Yrigoyen. The first military dictatorship established in 1930, restricted the Workers' Day celebration.
The day became particularly relevant during the workers-oriented government of Juan D. Perón (1946-1955).
In 1966, the dictatorship lead by general Onganía, banned the cellebration.
Bolivia
May 1 is known as Labour Day and is considered a public holiday. Almost all workers tend to respect it.
Brazil
In Brazil, Workers' Day is an official holiday, and unions commemorate it with day-long public events. It is also when salaries for most professional categories and the minimum wage are traditionally readjusted.
Canada
A notice about an anti-capitalist rally on Worker's Day in Montreal (2011)
Although celebrations by socialist, anarchist and anti-globalization activists occur on May 1 in Canada[citation needed], the government of Prime MinisterJohn Sparrow David Thompson declared in 1894 the first Monday in September as Canada's official Labour Day. May Day, however, remains an important day of trade-union and community group protest in the province of Quebec. Celebration of the International Labour Day (or Workers' Day,fête des travailleurs) in Montreal goes back to 1906, organised by the Mutual Aid circle. The tradition had a renaissance at the time of a mass strike of 1972. On the 1973 May Day, the first contemporary demonstration was organised by the major trade union confederations. Over 30,000 trade unionists took part in this demonstration.
Chile
President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo decreed May 1 a national holiday in 1931, in honor of the dignity of workers.[12] All stores and public services must close for the entire day, and the major trade unions of Chile, represented in the national organization Central Unitaria de Trabajadores, organize rallies during the morning hours, with festivities and cookouts in the later part of the day, in all the major cities of Chile. During these rallies, representatives of the major left-wing political parties speak to the assemblies on the issues of the day concerning workers’ rights.
Colombia
May 1 has long been recognized as labor day or Dia del Trabajo and almost all workers respect it as a national holiday. As in many other countries, it is common to see rallies by the trade unions in the main regional capitals of the country.
Costa Rica
It is recognized as a public holiday, and at the same time an important Government set of activities, this day the President of the Republic gives a speech to the citizens and the Legislature members about the duties that were taken through the previous year. The president of the Legislature is also chosen by its members.
Cuba
This day is known as (el día del trabajo) in Cuba. People march in the streets showing their support to their local socialist government and the revolution during the whole morning. La Habana orSantiago de Cuba are some of the cities where more people march. In 2011, guests from 73 countries and 167 representatives of labor and social organizations worldwide joined the march in Habana. Ecuador
It is recognized as a public holiday on May 1. Día del Trabajo
El Salvador
It is an official holiday and it is commemorated with parades.
Guatemala
May 1 is an official public holiday for Labor Day (know as Día del Trabajo).
Mexico
May 1 is a Federal holiday known as Día del Trabajo or Labor Day. It also commemorates the Cananea Mine Strike of 1906 in the Mexican state of Sonora.
Panama
May 1 is an official public holiday for Labor Day (know as Día del Trabajo).
Peru
May 1st is an official public holiday for Labor Day (Día del Trabajo).
United States
Socialists in Union Square, N.Y.C. on May 1st 1912
In the United States, efforts to officially switch Labor Day back to the international date of May 1 have not been successful. In 1921, following theRussian Revolution of 1917, May 1 was promoted as "Americanization Day" by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and other groups in opposition to communism. It became an annual event, sometimes featuring large rallies. In 1949, Americanization Day was renamed to Loyalty Day. In 1958, theU.S. Congress declared Loyalty Day, the U.S. recognition of May 1, a national holiday; that same year, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhowerproclaimed May 1 Law Day as well.
Unions and union locals in the United States — especially in urban areas with strong support for organized labor — have maintained a connection with labor traditions through their own unofficial observances on May 1. Some of the largest examples of this occurred during the Great Depression of the 1930s, when hundreds of thousands of workers marched in May Day parades in New York's Union Square. Groups have kept the May Day tradition alive with rallies and demonstrations in such cities as New York, Chicago and Seattle, often with major union backing.
In 2006, May 1 was chosen by mostly Latino immigrant groups in the United States as the day for the Great American Boycott, a general strike of undocumented immigrant workers and supporters to protest H.R. 4437, immigration reform legislation which they felt was draconian. From April 10 to May 1 of that year, millions of immigrant families in the U.S. called for immigrant rights, workers rights and amnesty for undocumented workers. They were joined by socialist and other leftist organizations on May 1.[14][15] On May 1, 2007, a mostly peaceful demonstration in Los Angeles in support of undocumented immigrant workers ended with a widely televised dispersal by police officers. In March 2008, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union announced that dockworkers will move no cargo at any West Coast ports on May 1, 2008, as a protest against the continuation of the Iraq War and the diversion of resources from domestic needs.[16] For May Day 2010, marches were being planned in many cities uniting immigrant and native workers including New York,[17][18] San Francisco,[19] Boston,[20] Albany [21] Chicago and Los Angeles most of whom protested against the Arizona Senate Bill 1070[22]
On May 1, 2012, tens of thousands marched in the streets of New York and around the US to commemorate May Day as the worker's holiday and to protest the dismal state of the economy, the growing divide between the rich and the poor and the status quo of economic inequality. Members of Occupy Wall Street and labor unions held protests together in a number of cities in the United States and Canada on May 1, 2012 to commemorate May Day.
Uruguay
In Uruguay, May 1 – Workers' Day – is an official holiday. Even when it is associated with labor unions, almost all workers tend to respect it.
Venezuela
May 1 is an official holiday in Venezuela. El Día del Trabajador is celebrated on May 1 in Venezuela since 1936, but from 1938 to 1945 it was held on 24 July, by an order of Eleazar López Contreras. However, Isaías Medina Angarita changed it back to May 1 in 1945.[25]
Asia
Bahrain
In Bahrain, May 1 is known as Labour Day and is considered a public holiday.
Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, it is observed on 1 May and is a Government holiday.
Cambodia
In Cambodia, people including workers and students celebrate this holiday by having a day off from work and study.
China
May 1st is a statutory holiday in the People's Republic of China. Prior to 2008, it was a three day holiday, but is now just the one day. However, it is usually supplemented by two other days to give the appearance of a three day holiday, but not being statutory holidays the extra days have to be 'made up' by working either the preceding or following weekend.
For example, in 2013, May 1st falls on the Wednesday. Most workplaces, including all government offices, will take Monday 29th April, Tuesday 30th April and Wednesday May 1st off. As the first two days are not statutory holidays they have to be 'made up' by working the preceding weekend (27th and 28th April).
Hong Kong
May 1 is known as Labour Day and has been considered a public holiday since 1999.
India
The first May Day celebration in India was organised in Madras by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan on 1 May 1923.[26] This was also the first time the red flag was used in India.[27] The party leader Singaravelu Chettiar made arrangements to celebrate May Day in two places in 1923. One meeting was held at the beach opposite to the Madras High Court; the other meeting was held at the Triplicane beach. The Hindu newspaper, published from Madras reported,
Triumph of Labour at the Marina Beach inChennai.
The Labour Kisan party has introduced May Day celebrations in Chennai. Comrade Singaravelar presided over the meeting. A resolution was passed stating that the government should declare May Day as a holiday. The president of the party explained the non-violent principles of the party. There was a request for financial aid. It was emphasized that workers of the world must unite to achieve independence. May Day is a nationwide bank and public holiday in India. The holiday is tied to labour movements for communist and socialist political parties. InMaharashtra and Gujarat, it is officially called Maharashtra Day("Maharashtra Din") and Gujarat Day respectively, since on this day in 1960 each attained statehood, after the old Bombay State became divided on linguistic lines.
Iran
In Iran, May 1 is known as the International Workers' Day but it is not a public holiday.
Iraq
In Iraq, it is known as the International Workers' Day and it is a public holiday.
Israel
In the State of Israel, May 1 is a time to celebrate justice for workers. The Avodah affiliated organizations and the Histadrut recognize this international holiday.
Japan
2011 National Trade Union Council (Zenrokyo) May Day march, Tokyo.
May Day is not officially designated by the Japanese government as a national holiday, but as it lies between other national holidays, it is a day-off work for the vast majority of Japanese workers. Many employers give it as a day-off by, and otherwise workers take it as "paid leave". 1 May 1 occurs during "Golden Week", together with 29 April ("Shōwa Day"), 3 May ("Constitution Memorial Day"), 4 May ("Greenery Day") and 5 May ("Children's Day"). Workers generally take the day off work not so much to join street rallies or labour union gatherings, but more to go on holiday for several consecutive days (in Japanese corporate culture, taking weekdays off for personal pleasure is widely frowned upon).
Some major labour unions organise rallies and demonstrations in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya. In 2008, the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenrōren) held a rally in Yoyogi Park attended by 44,000 participants, while the National Trade Unions Council (Zenrōkyō) held its May Day rally at Hibiya Park. Rengō, the largest Japanese trade union, held its May Day rally on the following Saturday (3 May), allegedly to distance itself from the more radical labour unions.
Jordan
May 1 is known as Labour Day and is considered a public holiday.
Korea
North Korea
In North Korea, it is known as International Workers' Day.
South Korea
In South Korea, it is known as Workers' Day. It is not a public holiday.
Lebanon
May 1 is known as the Workers' Day and is considered a public holiday. From the 1960s through the 1990s, left-wing parties and worker's unions organised major marches on this day. Recently[when?], only symbolic marches take place on this day.
Macau
May 1 is officially known as Dia do Trabalhador in Portuguese. It is a public holiday in the SAR.
Malaysia
Malaysia began observing the holiday in 1972 following an announcement by the late Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister, Ismail Abdul Rahman.
Maldives
Maldives first observed the holiday in 2011, after a declaration by President Mohamed Nasheed. He noted that this move highlighted the government’s commitment as well as efforts of private parties to protect and promote workers’ rights in the Maldives.
Myanmar
In Myanmar, May 1 is known as Labour Day and is considered a public holiday.
Nepal
May Day has been celebrated in Nepal since 1963. The day became a public holiday in 2007.
Pakistan
International Labour Day is observed in Pakistan on May 1 to commemorate the social and economic achievements of workers. It is a public and national holiday.
Philippines
May 1 is known as Labor Day and is considered a public holiday. Labor unions and organizations hold mass protests in major cities, while schoolchildren have no classes as it is part of the local summer holiday.
On May 1, 1903, the Union Obrera Democratica Filipina (Filipino Democratic Labor Union) held a massive rally in front of the Malacañan Palace demanding workers' economic rights, and the granting Philippine independence. Ten years later, the first official celebration was celebrated on May 1, 1913 when 36 labor unions convened in Manila.
On May 1, 2001, a mass demonstration occurred near Malacañang Palace which they called it as EDSA 3 or May 1 Riots.
During the Presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the holiday economics policy was followed, where holidays were moved to weekends to give workers a longer vacation. This was applied on Labor Day in 2002, which caused the holiday to be held on April 29; this was protested by labor groups, as they accused the Arroyo administration of belittling the holiday.[34] By 2008, Labor Day was excluded in the holiday economics policy, returning the commemorations every May 1, no matter what day of the week it falls under.
Singapore
In Singapore, it is known as Labour Day and it is a public holiday.
Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, it is observed on May 1 and is a Government and public holiday. The government held official May Day celebrations in major town and city, during which party leaders greeted the crowds. Workers carried banners with political slogans and many parties decorated their vehicles. The biggest celebration of May 1 usually occurred in the capital.
Syria
May 1 is known as Labour Day and is considered a public holiday.
Taiwan
May 1 is an official public holiday for Labor Day.In Taiwan, it is known as Labour Day and it is an official public holiday.
Thailand
In Thailand, the day is known in English as National Labour Day, and is one of 16 official public holidays in Thailand.
United Arab Emirates
In UAE, it is not officially observed and is a normal working day.
Vietnam
In Vietnam, it is known as International Labor Day and is a public holiday.The word International Workers' Day in Vietnamese is Ngày Quốc tế Lao động .
Europe
Eastern bloc under Communist governments
Eastern Bloc countries such as the Soviet Union and most countries of central and eastern Europe that were under the rule of Communist governments held official May Day celebrations in every town and city, during which party leaders greeted the crowds. Workers carried banners with political slogans and many companies decorated their company cars. The biggest celebration of May 1 usually occurred in the capital of a particular communist country and usually included a military display and the presence of the president and the secretary general of the Party. In Poland, since 1982, party leaders led the official parades, and in 1990, May 1 was renamed "State Holiday." In Hungary, May Day was officially celebrated under the Communist regime, and remains a public holiday. Traditionally, the day was marked by dancing around designated "May trees."
Austria
Labor Day ("Tag der Arbeit") or also called "Staatsfeiertag" is an official holiday in Austria.
Belgium
In Belgium, Labour Day (Dutch: "Dag van de Arbeid", "Feest van de Arbeid", French: "Journée des Travailleurs", "Fête du Travail"), is observed on May 1 and is an official holiday.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, May 1 (Bosnian and Serbian: Prvi Maj/Први Mај, Croatian: Prvi Svibanj) is official holiday at the national level. Most people celebrate this holiday by visiting natural parks and resorts. Additionally, in some places public events are organized.
Bulgaria
Labor Day is one of the official holidays in Bulgaria where it is known as Labor Day and International Workers' Solidarity Day (Ден на труда и на международната работническа солидарност). The first attempt to celebrate it was in 1890 by the Bulgarian Topographical Association. In 1939 –49 years later, Labour Day was declared an official holiday. Since 1945 the communist authorities in the National Republic of Bulgaria began to celebrate the holiday every year. After the end of socialism in Bulgaria in 1989 Labour Day continues to be an official and public holiday, but state authorities are not committed to the organization of mass events. It is celebrated annually on May 1.
Croatia
In Croatia, May 1 is a national holiday. People celebrate all over the country. In Zagreb, the capital, most people go to Maksimir Park, which is located at east part of Zagreb. In Split, the largest city on the coast, people go to Marjan, a park-forest at the western end of Split peninsula. Many public events are organized and held all over the country where military style bean soup is given out to all people as a symbol of a real workers dish and red carnations as a symbol of blood of fallen workers from the 1886 Haymarket affair in Chicago.
Czech Republic
In Czech Republic, 1st of May is an official and national holiday known as Labour Day (Den práce in Czech).
Denmark
In Denmark, May 1 is not an official holiday.
Finland
In Finland, 1st of May is an official and national holiday. Apart from Workers' Day (officially: "suomalaisen työn päivä" = day of Finnish labour), it is also celebrated as a feast of students, and spring.
France
In France, 1 May is a public holiday. It is, in fact, the only day of the year on which employees are legally obliged to be given leave, save professions which cannot be interrupted due to their nature (such as workers in hospitals and public transport).[37] Demonstrations and marches are a Labour Day tradition in France, where Trade Unions organise parades in major cities to defend workers' rights. It is also customary to offer a lily of the valley to friends or family. This custom dates back from 1561, where Charles IX, aged 10, waiting for his accession to the throne, gave a lily of the valley to all ladies present. Today, the fiscal administration exempts individuals and workers organizations if any tax or administrative duties related to the sales of lilies of the valley, provided they are gathered from the wild, and not bought to be resold.
Georgia
Georgia (a former Soviet state), because of its Soviet past, is not listing 1 May as a public holiday.
Germany
Stamp of GDR's 1. Mai
In April 1933, the recently installed Nazi government declared May 1 the "Day of National Work," an official state holiday, and announced that all celebrations were to be organized by the government. Any separate celebrations by communists, social democrats or labour unions were banned. After the World War II, May 1 remained a state holiday in both East and West Germany. In communist East Germany, workers were de facto required to participate in large state-organized parades on Mayday. Today in Germany it is simply called the "Day of Labour" ("Tag der Arbeit"), and there are numerous demonstrations and celebrations by independent workers' organizations. Today, Berlin witnesses yearly demonstrations on May Day, the largest organized by labour unions, political parties and others by the far left and Autonomen.
Since 1987, May Day has also become known for riots in some districts of Berlin. After police actions against radical leftists in that year's annual demonstrations, the Autonome scattered and sought cover at the ongoing annual street fair in Kreuzberg. Three years prior to the reunification of Germany, violent protests would only take place in the former West Berlin. The protesters began tipping over police cars, violently resisting arrest, and began building barricades after the police withdrew due to the unforeseen resistance. Cars were set on fire, shops plundered and burned to the ground. The police eventually ended the riots the following night. These violent forms of protests by the radical left, later increasingly involved participants without political motivation. (Read more: May Day in Kreuzberg)
Annual street fairs have proven an effective way to prevent riots, and May Day in 2005 and 2006 have been among the most peaceful known to Berlin in nearly 25 years. In recent years, neo-Nazis and other groups on the far right, such as the National Democratic Party of Germany, have used the day to schedule public demonstrations, often leading to clashes with left-wing protesters, which turned especially violent in Leipzig in 1998 and 2005.
May Day violence flared again in 2010. After an approved far right demonstration was blocked by leftists, a parade by an estimated 10,000 leftists and anarchists turned violent and resulted in an active response by Berlin police.
Greece
In Greece, May 1 is not a public holiday. Instead, it is commonly a day of strike called "Εργατική Πρωτομαγιά" and celebrations are marked by demonstrations to which left-wing political parties, anti-authority groups and worker's unions participate. On May Day 2010 there were major protests all over Greece, most notably Athens and Thessaloniki, by many left, anarchist and communist supporters and some violent clashes by riot police who were sent out to contain the protesters. They opposed economic reforms, an end to job losses and wage cuts in the face of the government's proposals of massive public spending cuts. These reforms are to fall in line with the IMF-EU-ECB loan proposals which demand that Greece liberalize its economy and cut its public spending and private sector wages, which many believe will decrease living standards.
Iceland
In Iceland the Labour Day (Frídagur Verkalýðsins) is a national holiday. However many stores nowdays are open and pay higher salaries to the workers instead on this day.
Ireland
May Day celebrations in Ireland, North and South, are organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. Rallies take place in Belfast and Dublin and other events such as lectures, concerts and film screenings also take place around a wider May Day festival. A Public holiday is observed on the first Monday in May.
Italy
The first May day celebration in Italy took place in 1890. It started initially as an attempt to celebrate workers' achievements in their struggle for their rights and for better social and economic conditions. It was abolished under the Fascist Regime and immediately restored after the Second World War. (During the fascist period, a "Holiday of the Italian labour" (Festa del lavoro italiano) was celebrated on April 21, the date of Natale di Roma, when ancient Rome was allegedly founded.) Now, May Day is an important celebration in Italy. Very popular is the Concerto del Primo Maggio ("1 May's Concert"), organized by Italian Labour Unions in Rome in Piazza San Giovanni. It is attended by more than 500,000 people every year,[citation needed] and involves participation of many famous bands and songwriters. The concert is usually broadcasted live by Rai Tre.
Republic of Macedonia
In Republic of Macedonia, May 1 is an official public holiday. People celebrate with friends and family at traditional picnics across the country, accompanied by the usual outdoor games, various grilled meats and beverages.
Malta
In Malta, May 1 is an official public holiday celebrated as Worker's Day together with the religious feast of St. Joseph (Patron of Workers). A free music event also takes place on this date.
Netherlands
In the Netherlands, May 1 is not an official holiday. However, several left-wing political parties and organizations celebrate International Workers' Day yearly. Small demonstrations are sometimes held, mostly by anarchist and radical socialist groups. One of the reasons labour day never got established as a national holiday might be that the day immediately preceding it, Queen's Day, is already a public holiday in its own right.
Norway
In Norway, Labour Day or "Arbeidernes Dag" is on the 1st of May every year. It is an official public holiday.
Poland
In Poland, May 1 celebration is dedicated to the beatification of Pope John Paul II.
Portugal
In Portugal, the May 1 celebration was harshly repressed during the fascist dictatorship regime of António de Oliveira Salazar. Since the Carnation Revolution on 25 April 1974, the Worker's Day is now celebrated by the several leftist political parties with parades and demonstrations. The first demonstration after the Carnation Revolution, only one week after the coup, stays until today as the biggest demonstration in the history of Portugal. Remains today an opportunity for the several precarious workers groups to show their discontent for existing working conditions, in a parade called Primeiro de Maio (1 May). Worker's Day also represents the unionized workers that try to improve the working conditions of emigrant workers abroad. It is an official public holiday.
Romania
In Romania, May 1, known as the International Labour Day (Ziua internațională a muncii), the International Workers' Day (Ziua internațională a oamenilor muncii), or simply 1/First of May(1/Întâi Mai), is an official public holiday. During the communist regime, like in all former Eastern Bloc countries, the day was marked by large state-organized parades in most towns and cities, to which many workers were de facto required to participate. After the Romanian Revolution of 1989, May 1 continues to be an official public holiday, but without any state organised events or parades. Most people celebrate together with friends and family, organising picnics and barbecues. It is also the first day of the year when people, especially those from the southeastern part of the country including the capital Bucharest, go to spend the day in one of the Romanian Black Sea resorts.
Russia
May Day was celebrated illegally in Russia until the February Revolution enabled the first legal celebration in 1917. The following year, after the Bolshevik seizure of power, the May Day celebrations were boycotted by Mensheviks, Left Socialist Revolutionaries and anarchists. It became an important official holiday of the Soviet Union, celebrated with elaborate popular parade in the centre of the major cities. The biggest celebration was traditionally organized on the Red Square, where the General Secretary of the CPSU and other party and government leaders stood atop Lenin's Mausoleum and waved to the crowds. Since 1992, May Day is officially called "The Day of Spring and Labour", and remains a major holiday in present-day Russia.
Serbia
In Serbia, May 1 is a day off work and a day out of school. It is one of the major popular holidays, and only official holiday from socialist times that is still officialy celebrated. People celebrate it all over the country. By tradition May 1 is celebrated by coutryside picnics and outdoor barbecue. May is marked by warm weather in Serbia. In Belgrade, the capital, most people go to Avala orKošutnjak, which are parks located in Rakovica and Čukarica. People go around the country to enjoy nature. A major religious holiday of Djurdjevdan is on 6 May so quite often days off work are given to connect these two holidays and weekend, creating a small spring break. May 1 is celebrated by most of the population regardless of political views.
Slovenia
In Slovenia, May 1 (and also May 2) is a day off work and a day out of school. There are many official celebrations all over the country. In Ljubljana, the capital, most people go to Rožnik tiny hill over the city. On the evening before (April 30) bonfires are being held on many elevations.
Spain
In Spain, the May 1 celebration was established after the end of Franco's dictatorship in 1975; before that, it had been celebrated during the Spanish Second Republic period (1931–1939), but it was banned afterwards by the fascist Franco regime. The first time it was celebrated was in 1977, when the Communist Party of Spain was legalized. Since then, it has become an official holiday that has been traditionally used by trade unions and leftist parties for social and labour vindications. Commonly, pacific demonstrations and parades occur in major and minor cities.
Sweden
May 1 has been an important part of Swedish history since the late 19th century. The day was made a public holiday in 1938 but had been celebrated by the Swedish Social Democratic Partyand the left since 1890. The first May Day celebration gathered more than 50.000 people in central Stockholm. The crowd went to hear speeches by the leading figures in the Swedish labour movement such as Hjalmar Branting (later prime minister), August Palm and Hinke Bergegren. During World War I the demonstrations mainly had a peace message and the Liberal Party also joined the demonstrations. The 8-hour working day and women's suffrage were the principal themes during the troubled times after World War I.
The May Day demonstrations are still an important part of Swedish politics for the social democrats, left-wing parties and unions who use May Day to discuss their politics. In Stockholm the Social Democratic Party always marches towards Norra Bantorget, the centre of the Swedish labour movement, to hold speeches in front of the headquarters of the Swedish Trade Union Confederation, while the smaller Left Party rally marches towards Kungsträdgården.
Switzerland
In Switzerland, the status of May 1 differs depending on the canton and sometimes on the municipality. Labor Day is known as Tag der Arbeit in German-speaking cantons, as Fête du Travail in the French-speaking cantons, and as Festa del lavoro in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino.
In the cantons of Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Jura, Neuchâtel, and Zürich, Labor Day is an official public holiday equal to Sundays, based on federal law (Bundesgesetz über die Arbeit in Industrie, Gewerbe und Handel, article 20a).
In the cantons of Schaffhausen, Thurgau, and Ticino, Labor Day is an official "day off" (Ruhetag). This equals in practice to an official public holiday, but is not based on federal law and cantonal regulations may differ in details.
In the canton of Solothurn it is an official half-day holiday (starting at 12 noon).
In the canton of Fribourg, public servants get the afternoon off, many companies follow this practice.
In the canton of Aargau it is not an official holiday, but most employees get the afternoon off.
In the municipalities of Hildisrieden and Schüpfheim (both in the canton of Lucerne) as well as in Muotathal (canton of Schwyz), May 1 is an official public holiday, but as commemoration day of the local patron saint, not as Labor Day. In the other parts of the cantons of Lucerne and Schwyz, May 1 is a regular work day.
In all other cantons, May 1 is a regular work day.
The largest Labor Day celebrations in Switzerland are held in the city of Zürich. Each year, Zürich's May 1 committee, together with the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions, organises a festival and May 1 rally. It is the largest rally held on a regular basis in Switzerland.
Turkey
Workers marching to Taksim Square, May 1, 2012
May 1 is an official holiday celebrated in Turkey. It was a holiday until 1981 when it was cancelled after the 1980 coup-d'état. In 2010, the Turkish government restored the holiday after some casualties and demonstrations. Taksim Square is the center of the celebrations due to the Taksim Square massacre.
Workers' Day was first celebrated in 1912 in İstanbul, in 1911 in Selânik and in 1899 in İzmir. After the establishment of the Turkish Republic, it became an official holiday. In 1924, it was forbidden by a decree and in both 1924 and 1925, demonstrations were intervened by arm floats. In 1935, The National Assembly declared Workers' Day to be a holiday again.[42]
During the events leading to the 1980 Turkish coup d'etat, a massacre occurred on 1 May 1977, (Taksim Square massacre) in which unknown activists opened fire on the crowd. The crowd was the biggest in Turkish Workers' history with the number of people approximating 500,000. In the next two years, provocations and confusion continued and peaked before the 1980 coup d'etat. The Workers' Day holiday was cancelled once again. Still, demonstrations continued with small crowds, and in 1996, three people were killed by police bullets, and a plain-clothes man who spied in the crowd was revealed and lynched by workers. On the same evening, a video broadcasted on TV showed that two participants of the demonstration were lynched by far right-wing nationalist groups and this lynching occurred in front of police forces who were watching the scene with happy faces. Thus, 1 May 1996 has been remembered by workers movements.
In 2007, the 30th anniversary of the Taksim square massacre, leftist workers' unions wanted to commemorate the massacre in Taksim square. Since the government would not let them into the square, 580-700 people were stopped and 1 person died under police control. After these events, the government declared 1 May as "Work and Solidarity Day" but not as a holiday. In the next year, the day was declared as an holiday, but people were still not allowed to gather in Taksim Square. The year 2008 was remembered with police violence in Istanbul. Police fired tear-gas grenades among the crowds, and into hospitals and a primary school. Workers pushed forward so that in 2010, 140,000 people gathered in Taksim, and in 2011 there were more than half a millon demonstrators.
United Kingdom
May Day activities (from 1978) are on the first Monday of the month. This Monday is a bank holiday, a day off school and work. In the United Kingdom in recent years, the anti-capitalistmovement has organised a number of large protests in London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Doncaster. In London, these have resulted in clashes with the police.[44] In 2000, the clashes ended with a branch of McDonalds being smashed and a statue of Winston Churchill being given a grass Mohawk hairstyle. The Cenotaph was also defaced with graffiti.[45] In the last few years, demonstrations have been more peaceful, with marches and gatherings, particularly in central London.[46] The current Conservative-led coalition government in March 2011 announced plans to move the May Day bank holiday to October in order to lengthen the tourist season.[47] A London rally on May Day is organised by the London May Day Organising Committee (LMDOC).
Africa
Algeria
May 1 is a public labour holiday in Algeria.[48] the first of May is celebrated in algeria as a labours day and a paid bank holiday since 1962.
Egypt
Egyptian Communist Party flags in Tahrir Square.
May 1 is known as Labor Day and is considered a paid holiday. The President of Egypt traditionally presides over the official May Day celebrations inCairo; however, owing to the absence of a president pursuant to the Revolution of 2011, as well as corruption charges faced by the head of the state-controlled national trade union centre (the Egyptian Trade Union Federation), the 2011 celebrations were organized by independent unions (united under the banner of the Egyptian Federation for Independent Trades Unions) for the first time since the Revolution of 1952.
Kenya
In Kenya, May Day is a public holiday and celebrated as the Labour Day. It is a big day addressed by the leaders of the workers umbrella union body- Central Organisation of Trade Unions COTU. The Minister for Labour (and occasionally the President) address the Workers. Each Year, the government approves (and increases) the minimum wage on Labour Day
Libya
On May 1, 1978, former Libyan leader Colonel Mu'ammar Al-Qaddafi addressed the nation in the capital city of Tripoli calling for Administrative and also Economic Reforms across Libya:
We celebrate today the first of May, the International Workers' Day; but the real workers' day is the one on which all workers of the world are liberated from slavery and when they become partners instead of wage workers...
This should be the Workers' International Day of Liberation throughout the world which deserves the true celebration.
On September 1, marking the 9th anniversary of Qaddafi's rise to leadership, masses responded to the calls made four months prior by revolting and holding mass strikes against many institutions and private owned entities effectively eliminating the Private sector of the economy.
Four years later, again marking Workers' Day, Qaddafi gave a historic speech to labourers all over the world asking them to push further with reforms called for in 1978:
On this day we call on the workers of the world who are suffering from deceit, exploitation, oppression and slavery, to rebel against cruel social relations by seizing factories and production units to control their rights over production and form their people's congresses and committees ('No democracy without popular congresses...Committees everywhere!'. The outbreak of the workers revolution shall sweep the world, destroying forces of exploitation and oppression and raising the banner of the dictum "Partners in production not wage-earners", guided by the second chapter of The Green Book.
—Muammar Qaddafi, Workers' International Day of Liberation, May 1, 1982, Tripoli, Libya
International Workers' Day was declared as a national public holiday on May 1 of each year commencing 2012 by the National Transitional Council of Libya - the first year of the post-Qaddafi era.
Morocco
It is recognized as a public holiday May 1.
South Africa
Main article: Workers' Day
In South Africa, Workers' Day has been celebrated as a national public holiday on the 1 May each year since 1994.
Tanzania
In Tanzania, it is a public holiday and celebrated as the Workers' Day.
Tunisia
May 1st is recognised as Labour Day.
Scientists history of evolutionary called human beings, who claimed to be in the image of Most High God, 'higher' animals, but while some knowledgeable people are proving them wrong because some human beings are taking the form of 'lower' animals.
There was anxiety in Enugu State yesterday over the rumoured death of the state governor, Sullivan Chime, who allegedly is receiving treatment for cancer in a foreign hospital. There were widespread reports yesterday that the governor passed on in India on Wednesday.
Several news sources have been working their phones,emails and social networking accounts trying to confirm the rumour about the death of Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State.
Gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect have killed the District Head of Lawanti Ward in Bale, which is under Borno Emirate in Borno State, Alhaji Baba Zarabe.
