- Monday, March 31, 2025
The history of May Day goes back to the late 19th century workers’ upheaval in the United States in 1886. Workers all across the nation organised a strike for an eight-hour workday, on May 1.
By: indiaweekly.biz Staff
MORE than 80 countries in the world celebrate May 1 every year as International Workers Day or International Labour Day when working people in every industry and sector are honoured for their hard work and empowering them to become aware of their rights.
While May Day is observed as a holiday in many countries, organisations across the world launch on the day special campaigns on ways to improve the working and living conditions of their employees.
The day is celebrated with events to highlight the achievements of workers. Rallies and parades are also organised to educate the working class.
The history of May Day goes back to the late 19th century workers’ upheaval in the United States in 1886. Workers all across the nation organised a strike for an eight-hour workday, on May 1.
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The origins of the International Labour Day can be traced back to a labour movement in the US in the late 19th century.
On May 4, 1886, a bomb exploded near Haymarket Square in the American city of Chicago after police arrived to break up a rally that was held in support of workers calling strikes and holding demonstrations from May 1-4 demanding eight-hour workday. Many policemen and protesters were either killed or injured in the blast. Eight individuals were arrested, tried and convicted in connection to the incident.
The incident, called the ‘Haymarket affair’ or ‘Haymarket riot’ is generally considered as the origin of International Workers’ Day held on May 1.
The Labour Day holds a special significance in histories, cultures and hearts of people in different pats of the world. Not all nations, however, observe the day on the same date.
Canada and the US, where the 1886 incident took place, observe Labour Day on the first Monday of September.
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Canada’s history of Labour Day is even older as the nation first celebrated Labour Day in 1872, more than a decade before that in the US.
In India, the first May Day was celebrated in Chennai (formerly Madras) in the southern state of Tamil Nadu in 1923 by the Labour Kisan Party Of Hindustan. India was still a colony of the British at the time.
India also sees celebration of Maharashtra Day and Gujarat Day on May 1 to commemorate the foundation of the two western states that were once under the former Bombay State. They were carved out on May 1, 1960, under the Bombay Reorganisation Act.
In Europe, May Day was historically associated with rural pagan festivals and the day became an official holiday in Germany in 1933 following the rise of the Nazi Party.
