On May 1, many countries around the world celebrate the international holiday — Labor Day (Spring and Labor Day), which was originally called International Workers' Day.
On May 1, 1886, American workers organized a strike in Chicago, demanding an 8-hour workday. The strike and accompanying demonstration ended in a bloody clash with the police.
In July 1889, the Paris Congress of the Second International, in memory of the workers' speech, decided to hold annual demonstrations on May 1. International Workers' Solidarity Day was first celebrated in 1890 in Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Italy, the USA, Norway, France, Sweden and some other countries.
For a long time, May Day was a symbol of revolution, an irreconcilable class struggle, had a «political coloring» and was celebrated with demonstrations decorated with portraits of political figures, production leaders, slogans, calls, posters and diagrams about achievements in one or another branch of the national economy, science, culture. But gradually this context was lost.
Today the holiday is celebrated in more than 140 countries and territories around the world on May 1 or the first Monday of May. For a number of countries, the tradition of gathering people under the banner of trade unions has still been preserved, but in most countries it is still not a political holiday, but Labor Day, a bright spring holiday when folk festivals, performances by artists, fairs, peaceful processions and many entertainment events are organized. And for some, this is just another day off, during which you can relax or spend time with your family.
By the way, in some countries Labor Day is celebrated at other times — these include, for example, the USA and Japan. More than 80 countries (including India) do not celebrate Labor Day.
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