May Day, observed on May 1st, holds dual significance across the world:
1. International Workers' Day:
Celebrated globally to honor the labor movement and the contributions of workers.
Originated from the 1886 Haymarket affair in Chicago, where laborers demanded an eight-hour workday.
It's a symbol of unity, workers’ rights, and the fight against exploitation.
In many countries, it's a public holiday marked by rallies, speeches, and trade union parades.
2. Traditional Spring Festival (especially in Europe):
Rooted in pagan traditions, it celebrates fertility, the renewal of life, and the arrival of spring.
Customs include maypole dancing, crowning of a May Queen, and festivities in nature.
In India, May Day is observed as Labour Day, first celebrated in Chennai in 1923 by the Labour Kisan Party. It reflects the dignity of labor and unity of working classes.
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