May Day - Spring and Labor Day

May Day (International Workers' Solidarity Day, Labor Day, Spring Day, Spring and Labor Day) Not only in the countries of the former Soviet UnionUnion. The first day (or first Monday) of May is considered a holiday in 142 countries, beginning with Albania and ending with Estonia. In honor of which celebrate the holiday on May 1?

The history of this holiday begins in the 19th century. It was at this time that arose and began to grow stronger labor movement. In May 1886, a wave of rallies and demonstrations swept the USA and Canada - workers demanded better working conditions, including the introduction of an eight-hour working day.

May 4, 1886 in Chicago was held riot on Haymarket. Workers came to the Haymarket Square withthe requirement of an eight-hour working day. The rally was peaceful, but during it there was a terrorist attack aimed at provoking the workers. A bomb was thrown at the crowd, the police opened fire.

The next day, eightanarchists on charges of organizing a terrorist attack. Four of them were hanged, one committed suicide, and the rest were released in 1893, officially recognizing them as innocent victims of police provocation.

In July 1889, the Paris Congress of the Second International. He declared May 1 the Day of Solidarity of Workersof the whole world in memory of the anarchists executed after the riot in Haymarket Square. It was suggested that it be celebrated annually, by conducting demonstrations with social demands.

In the Russian Empire, May Day was first noted in1890 year. This holiday was accompanied by mass strikes of workers and demonstrations. After the February Revolution of 1917, May Day was first celebrated openly, and after the October Revolution the May Day became an official holiday. In the Soviet Union, the indispensable attribute of the Day of International Workers' Solidarity was May Day demonstrations and May Day (forays into nature).

After the collapse of the Soviet Union in the Russian Federation, the holiday was renamed Spring and Labour Day, and official demonstrations have sunk into the past. But the tradition of the maize remains: until now, on May 1 or 2, it is customary to get out on the nature with family or friends. True, few people remember that the appearance of the tradition of friendly picnics on May 1 is due to illegal meetings of workers.

But the first of May is not only the day of solidarity of the working people. Long before the appearance of the labor movement, this day was associated with the awakening of nature and the beginning of summer. Therefore, the first of May is also the day of spring, with which various festivals were associated in different cultures.

AT Ancient Rome, for example, the day of May 1 (calends of May) was considered the day of the awakening of the good goddess, the daughter of the god Fawn, the goddess of women, fertility, health and innocence. The Celts celebrated on May 1 Belteyn - holiday of the beginning of summer. It is believed that the western tradition of leading dances around the May pole is connected with the German analogue of Beltein.

On Hawaii Islands on May, 1st celebrate a holiday of Hawaiian dances - Lei's Day. AT Galicia (Spain) - the Mayons' spring holiday. In the Canadian province Saskatchewan - Day of the gopher. AT USA - Day of Law, Children's Health Day and Loyalty Day. In Of France - Lily of the valley day. AT Korea - Birthday of the Buddha. AT Kazakhstan Day of Unity of Peoples of Kazakhstan. And the witches on the night of May 30 to May 1 (Walpurgis Night) are going to the coven.

So there are plenty of reasons to celebrate May Day - there would be a desire and an opportunity. With the upcoming holiday you!