What & When is Labour Day (May Day)?

Every 1st of May, in many countries around the world, people get a day off to celebrate Labour Day. As the name suggests, this holiday is a day that commemorates all the hard working people around the world who put in time and effort to make a living. Labour Day is recognized as a national holiday in many countries around the world. However, the date differs in some countries.

Table of Contents

• What is the origin of Labour Day?
• When is Labour Day celebrated across the world?

What is the origin of Labour Day?

Labour Day traces its roots to the United States. The holiday was created in the 19th century by the Labour Union as a day for celebrating the hard work and achievements of labourers (workers). In the 19th century, the American worker worked for 12 hours a day for seven days a week to earn a basic living. The rights of workers at the time were massively neglected. Accidents were common in industries, and workers would get no compensation if they incurred any injury at work. There were no benefits at all (health benefits, leave days, maternity leave, etc.). Some states even allowed children to work. It is because of such turmoil and oppression that Labour Day became a national holiday.

Labour Day in the US first took place on the first Monday of September, a month selected by the labour movement. Initially, labour unions would call on workers to participate in the holiday. The first Labour Day was held in New York City in 1882. The call for the celebrations was made by the Central Labour Union of New York. The holiday was initiated for two primary purposes: First, the holiday was a call for workers to show the union and a shared sense of awareness of the challenges they experience at the workplace. The group of workers marching down together in New York on Labour Day sent the message that the workers were united together against the monopoly. Secondly, the holiday was intended to bring together the various types of working-class movements such as the socialists, craft unionists, and many more. The first Labour Day parade was a success, and about 250,000 workers turned up for the festivities. After the parade, the workers would hold a picnic to mark the celebrations. The activities that took place were designed to unify the workers without intimidating the politicians or the middle class. Since then, Labour Day has been observed as part of the country’s national Identity.

The beginnings of the holiday bore a common purpose, that is, the rights of workers. Socialism was on the rise as more workers came to realize that capitalism benefited the elite class and devastated the poor, and hence, Labour Day is about justice and equality. These American values are still being fought for in the workplace to date. For Instance, according to AAUW.Org, the gender pay gap is a real issue affecting women across the globe, and occupational segregation harms working mothers as they are forced to take a lower pay compared to their male counterparts. Additionally, other issues such as racial bias, disability, age, and the accessibility and affordability of education affect the labour market today. These issues re-ignite the purpose of the Labour Day celebrations. There is still a need for workers to unite and fight against oppression, inequality, and exploitation in the workplace, just as it was in the 19th century.

In 1887, Oregon became the first state to celebrate Labour Day as a federal holiday, after which, President Grover Cleveland made it a statutory holiday in 1894. In the same year, Canada made Labour Day a national holiday. The holiday is commonly identified as a three-day weekend in the U.S. This weekend signifies the beginning of fall and the end of summer. Also, this is the last long weekend before schools open. The 3-day holiday has shifted the significance of Labour Day as many people see it as a day of rest, but protests and political action are associated with Labour Day as well.

There is the common expression “No White after Labour Day.” No doubt you have heard about this. However, the actual story about this phrase is highly debatable. First, there is class diction that theorized this notion claiming that in the 1900s, white clothing was the luxury of the upper class. When the Civil War ended, it became difficult to distinguish between the classes as white became a casual outfit that anyone could afford. The decision not to wear white after Labour Day signified solidarity among the working class. Alternatively, historians say that the expression came from the upper class because they are spoilt for choice; they would store away their white summer clothes in preparation for winter.

When is Labour Day celebrated across the world?

In the United States, Labour Day is celebrated on the first Monday of September, while 105 other countries in the world celebrate it on May 1st. This date is generally recognized as the International Workers Day based on Section 28 of the International Labour Organization (ILO). The recognition of the rights of workers began to spread around the world as labour parties began taking root in other countries. In India, for example, the Labour Kisan party organized the first Labour Day celebrations in the country on May 1st. Countries that celebrate Labour Day on May 1st include:

As industrialization and globalization became the norm, international agreements on labour protection rose. The strife after World War II also triggered the need for an international labour union that would defend the rights of workers. There was a need for unity among countries based on the new threat of intense competition on a global scale. As a consequence, on 1st May 1932, the ILO declared May 1st as International Workers Day.

There is a particular reason as to why the month of May was selected. First of all, the date was chosen to commemorate the Haymarket incident which occurred on May 4th, 1886, at a labour demonstration in Chicago when workers went on strike demanding an eight hour a day work schedule. However, a bomb exploded during the protests killing dozens of officers and police officers. The demonstrations had begun on May 1st and went on until to May 4th. The United Kingdom celebrate Labour Day and May Day on May 6th as May Day. In Trinidad and Tobago, Labour Day is on 19th June while in Jamaica the holiday falls on May 23rd. All these variations have to do with the labour unions in the respective countries.

May Day
The May celebrations of Labour Day fall at a time that was previously known as May Day. There are centuries of celebrations surrounding May 1st. In some countries, this was a day of rest in commemoration of spring. Another theory argues that Memorial Day and Labour Day marked the end of summer. As a result, there was no need for white clothing or any other light clothing. This trend was promoted by magazines which depicted fashion trends after Labour Day that did not involve white clothing.

In Hawaii, citizens celebrate Lei Day – a celebration of the Hawaiian culture. In the UK, people celebrate May Day with the crowning of a May Queen, Morris dancing, and dancing around a Maypole. May 1st was also initially a bank holiday in the UK.

May Day celebrations are similar to the Greek festival of Anthesteria, which was a celebration of rebirth that was believed to take place during the spring. The celebrations were marked by the gathering of flowers and dancing around the Maypole to promote fertility. In communist countries, the holiday has become a day for commemorating military and industrial success. Each country has a unique story behind the holiday. In Germany, Labour Day was instituted in 1933 as a gift for Hitler.

Although, Labour Day is a public holiday in most countries across the world, people tend to use this holiday as a day of rest and rarely go out of the norm to observe it. However, the events that occurred during this holiday contributed to a better society. The Haymarket incident, for instance, led to the Adamson Act in 1916. This Act brought about the 8 hours a day rule.

Did you know that Labour Day is the most dangerous day to drive on the road? According to statistics and news reports, there were over 308 casualties over the Labour Day holidays from 2011 to 2015. The ‘no work day’ excitement seems to get the better of most drivers.

Parades are not that uncommon during the holiday. In the U.S., there is still a parade that takes place in New York City (about 20 blocks north from the 1882 labour March). Each country has a unique way of celebrating this holiday. In China, for instance, people celebrate the day by spending it with friends and family. The Chinese government approves significant discounts in stores in commemoration of the holiday.