Recently, The International Workers' Day, also called Labour Day, was celebrated around the world, and in this article I'm going to explain why it's celebrated and how it's celebrated in different countries.
May 1st (May Day) is the International Workers’ Day, however, there are a few countries that celebrate Labour Day on other dates such USA and Canada which celebrate on the first Monday of September, and it’s a celebration of the working classes and the labourers. The date, 1st May, was chosen in 1889 for political reasons by the Marxist International Socialist Congress which met in Paris and established the Second International, as a replacement for the earlier International Workingmen’s Association. During this meeting, the Second International also adopted a resolution for a “great international demonstration” in support of the working class demanding eight-hour day.
In April 1856 in Australia stonemasons had a mass stoppage as a part of the 8-hour day movement, this event lately inspired American workers to have a mass stoppage too. However, in Chicago in 1886 during an eight-hour day demonstration tragedy occurred. The police were at the demonstration and were supposed to disperse a public assembly in support of the demonstration but during the demonstration, an unidentified person threw a bomb which the police responded with opening fire towards the demonstrations. Seven police officers and at least 38 demonstrators died, 60 police officers and 115 demonstrators were injured during this night. The day after, in Wisconsin, the state military opened fire towards a group of strikers which resulted in the death of 7 people which one of them was a schoolboy and one was a man who was outside feeding his chickens.
Moving on to something happier, how the day is celebrated in different countries.
Sweden Labour Day (Swedish: Första maj/Arbetarnasdag) became an official public holiday in 1938 but it’s been celebrated by the Social Democratic Party and the Left Party since 1890. This is an important part of Swedish politics and especially for social democrats, left parties and unions.
Japan Labour day is not an official holiday in Japan but since it lies between other national holidays a majority of the workers have a day off work anyway. However, workers usually don’t spend their day off work to join demonstrations or labour union gatherings. Most people enjoy the 3 days off work with relaxing.
France Labour Day (French: Fete du Travail) is an official public holiday and actually the only day of the year when employees are legally obligated to be given leave. Some traditions on Labour Day in France is demonstrations and marches and trade unions organize parades in major cities to defend workers’ rights.
Norway In Norway, Labour Day (Norwegian: Arbeidernes Dag) is on May 1st and it’s an official public holiday. Traditionally on this day the labour unions, leftist political parties and feminist and anti-racist organizations organize marches, speeches and parties.
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