Labour Day: where in the world is it celebrated and why 1 May

After New Year's Day, the first of May, better known as Workers' Day, is the most celebrated holiday in the world. In many countries, from Cuba to Turkey, from Brazil to China and then in Russia, Mexico and some EU countries, the first of May is a national holiday.

On 1 May 1886, a general strike had been called across the United States in which workers demanded better and more humane working conditions. The protest went on for three days and on 4 May culminated in a real battle between the striking workers and the Chicago police: eleven people lost their lives in what would go down in history as the Haymarket Massacre.

Three years later, on 20 July 1889, the idea of a large demonstration to demand the reduction of the working day to eight hours was launched at the first congress of the Second International in Paris. The initiative became a symbol of protest to demand workers' rights and has since crossed the French borders to establish itself as Labour Day in the world.

In France, it is customary to celebrate the first of May by giving a lily of the valley flower, which brings good luck to the recipient. In Germany, on the other hand, it is celebrated by wearing a red carnation, the symbol of socialist movements. A special way of celebrating is that of the Finns, for whom Workers' Day falls in conjunction with Vappu, celebrating the Nordic spring: from 30 April, workers and students organise picnics and toasts wearing the traditional white cap (lakki) typical of new graduates.

In Brazil, the 'Dia mundial do trabalho' is only celebrated in Santos where people line the streets in a truly festive atmosphere. Finally in China, Labour Day is celebrated for a week during which the government grants paid holidays to workers. This is an extraordinary event for the Chinese government, since standard employment contracts do not provide for holidays.