The first day of May is celebrated in most parts of the world as International Workers’ Day or International Labour Day. In some countries, this is also called ‘May Day’ as it coincides with the traditional spring holiday. May Day marks the annual celebration of the International Labour Movement by labourers and workers.
As far back as 21 April 1856, almost a century after the beginning of the industrial revolution in 1760, there was a growing resentment about the way the basic human rights were being compromised in favour of mass production and industries. On that date the Australian Stonemasons organized a mass protest in Victoria to give a boost to the eight-hour workday movement. A similar protest ensued in the United States of America. This campaign culminated in the ‘Haymarket Affair’ at Chicago on 4 May 1886. The 6th Conference of the Second International Congress urged all Social Democratic Party organizations and trade unions across the globe to demonstrate solidarity for establishment and implementation of the eight-hour day policy for workers across the world.
May 1 was chosen for celebration of the International Workers’ Day by Marxist International Socialist Congress in 1889. The Marxist International Socialist Congress evolved from its earlier version of the International Workingmen’s Association. It was this meeting in Paris that paved the way for an elaborate international demonstration to garner support for the working-class demand for fixing the working hours of workers at eight hours a day. May Day was formally recognized as an annual event at the International’s Second Congress in 1891 and May Day became the focal point for labour-related demonstrations particularly in socialist and communist countries. Eventually, most of the countries have fallen in line with this. In 1955, the Catholic Church dedicated 1st May to Saint Joseph as his feast day since he is the patron saint of workers.
May Day was also known as the Day of International Workers Solidarity in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the erstwhile Russia along with the CIS states before their break-up. The 1st of May used to be celebrated as the May Day in USSR illegally until the February Revolution in 1917 which resulted in the legal sanction for the same.
In many countries May Day is a national, public holiday. Though May Day is generally observed as the Labour Day in most countries, some countries have opted to celebrate their Labour Day on dates that are more important to the labour in their respective countries. For instance, parts of the United States of America and Canada celebrate Labor Day on the first Monday of September, these days.
May Day is marked by meetings, rallies, demonstrations, workshops, seminars and other events related to the International Workers’ Day.
But, apart from the International Workers’ Day, ‘May Day’ finds popular usage in quite a different field. ‘May Day’ is a code used by pilots to convey an SOS signal to the Airport Administration and Ground Control when their flight is in danger and needs urgent support for a safe landing.
