May Day occurs on May 1 and refers to several public holidays.In many countries,May Day is synonymous with International Workers' Day,or Labour Day,a day of political demonstrations and celebrations organised by unions,communists,anarchists,socialists,and activist groups.May Day is also a traditional holiday in many cultures.
International Workers' Day
Approximately 700,000 people at a May Day concert in Rome Main article:International Workers' Day
May Day can refer to various labour celebrations conducted on May 1 that commemorate the fight for the eight hour day.May Day in this regard is called International Workers' Day,or Labour Day.The idea for a "workers holiday" began in Australia in 1856; after a Stonemason's victory,April 22nd was "Eight-Hour Day",a public holiday.With the idea having spread around the world,the choice of May 1st became a commemoration by the Second International for the people involved in the 1886 Haymarket affair.
The Haymarket affair occurred during the course of a three-day general strike in Chicago,Illinois,United States that involved common laborers,artisans,merchants,and immigrants.Following an incident in which police opened fire and killed four strikers at the McCormick Harvesting Machine Co.plant,a rally was called for the following day at Haymarket Square.Towards the end of the rally,as police moved in to disperse the event and opened fire on the unarmed crowd on the plea that an unknown assailant threw a bomb into the crowd of police.The bomb and resulting police riot left at least a dozen people dead,including one policeman.A sensational show trial ensued in which eight defendants were openly tried for their political beliefs,and not necessarily for any involvement in the bombing.The trial led to the eventual public hanging of four anarchists.The Haymarket incident was a source of outrage from people around the globe.In the following years,memory of the "Haymarket martyrs" was remembered with various May Day job actions and demonstrations.
May Day has become an international celebration of the social and economic achievements of the labour movement.Although the commemoration of May Day as International Workers' Day received its inspiration from the United States,the U.S.Congress designated May 1 as Loyalty Day in 1958 due to the day's perceived appropriation by the Soviet Union.Alternatively,Labor Day traditionally occurs on the first Monday in September in the United States.People often use May Day as a day for political protest,such as the million people who demonstrated against far-right candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen in France,or as a day for protest against government actions,such as rallies in support of undocumented workers across the United States.