The History Of The May 1st Labor Holiday

May 1st is a national holiday, commonly known as Labor Day. It is observed with somewhat different names in many other nations but has the same purpose everywhere. The celebration's origins can be traced to Ancient Rome, when people held several joyous rites and celebrations to appease the nymph, one of the seven Pleiadian sisters, the Mayan fertility goddess. However, following the rise of Christianity, the pagan holiday was eradicated.

The working class has been fighting for a shorter workday since the 1800s; this demand has significant political implications. The Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions in the United States and Canada decided on October 7, 1884, that eight hours would be considered a legitimate workday starting May 1, 1886. Additionally, the Federation advised worker organizations under its purview to adhere to this decision by the specified deadline. May Day has been observed on May 1st every year since then.

It was first observed globally in 1886 as a protest against the ruthless exploitation of workers by industrialists. Forced socialists from the US and Canada staged protests and rallies, calling for the introduction of equal and humane working conditions, the elimination of child labor, and an eight-hour workday as opposed to the previous twelve to fifteen-hour workday. Workers seeking better conditions led to strikes, and altercations with the police were common in many countries.

For example, in American cities such as New York and Detroit, six protestors lost their lives while being dispersed, and eight police officers were killed in explosions that followed the violent unrest among the workforce brought on by these incidents and police abuse. The result was harsh; the court executed four workers for planning the explosion. In remembrance of the incident, the Second Congress of the International in Paris in 1889 adopted a resolution designating the Day of International Solidarity of Workers.

In 1890, labor rallies took place in America, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, and France. Countries all around the world actively take part in a variety of activities, including folk festivals, fairs, and automobile races, to commemorate May 1. History reveals that the first recorded celebration of May Day in South Africa took place in 1895, and was organized by the Johannesburg District Trades Council.

The advantages of the May 1 protests for better working conditions have broadened the defense of the interests of workers through trade unions worldwide. More significantly, in contrast to the violent years of slavery in the workplace, labor unions have managed to maintain their mass appeal and capacity to create a variety of tactics to defend the rights of employees.