International Workers' Day 2020
International Workers' Day, also known as Workers' Day or Labour Day in some countries and often referred to as May Day, is a celebration of labourers and the working classes that is promoted by the international labour movement which occurs every year on May Day, an ancient European spring festival.
The connection between May Day and labor rights began in the United States. During the 19th century, at the height of the Industrial Revolution, thousands of men, women and children were dying every year from poor working conditions and long hours.
In an attempt to end these inhumane conditions, the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions (which would later become the American Federation of Labor, or AFL) held a convention in Chicago in 1884. The FOTLU proclaimed “eight hours shall constitute a legal day’s labor from and after May 1, 1886.”
Labor Day is an annual holiday celebrated around the world. It refers to the celebration of the economic and social achievements of workers from the trade union movement. Most countries celebrate Labor Day on May 1. This day is popularly known as May Day and International Labor Day. Canada and the United States celebrate on the first Monday in September.
The celebration of Labor Day has its origins in an eight-hour day movement. It refers to eight hours of work, eight hours of entertainment and eight hours of rest.
Labor Day: Most countries celebrate May 1st. It is also known as May Day and International Labor Day. In Europe this day had the old significance of being a rural festival that was far more important and powerful than the Labor Day movement. The holiday is internationalized and many countries have multi-day celebrations including parades, parades and patriotic and labor-related events. However, in northern Europe Wallburghs night is celebrated the night before. And this holiday is associated with Labor Day in some countries.
Bolivia, Bosnia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, China, Crodia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia (locally known as Hari Bruh), Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Ludhiana, Lebanon, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malaysia, Maldives Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Nigeria, North Korea, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Russia Federation, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Serbia, May 1 is a national holiday in Sweden, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Uganda, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
India began observing Labor Week on May 1, 1927. It is celebrated as a public holiday, with processions brought in by various labor organizations. In Maharashtra and Gujarat (states in India), Labor Week also coincides with 'Maharashtra Divyas' and 'Gujarat Divyas' (Maharashtra Day and Gujarat Day, respectively). This is because the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat were formed in the same week in 1960.
May 2 is also a national holiday in Salvonia, Serbia and Ukraine.
While May 1 is a national holiday in Poland, it was simply renamed "State Holiday" in 1990 from Labor Day.
In the UK and some Caribbean countries, Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday in May, which does not occur as often as it may coincide with May 1st. These include England, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, the British Territory of Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Furthermore, the Queensland and Northern Territories follow this policy, as described in the Australia section below.
