24 April, 2017
Inspired by
ancient Greek festivals like the Anthesteria, May Day was originally a
celebration of spring and the rebirth taking place in nature during that time
of the year. Traditionally, May Day is characterized by the gathering of
flowers and the fertility rite of dancing around the maypole. In recent years,
particularly in socialist and Communist countries, May Day has become a labor
festival honoring the military and industrial efforts of the country.
The eight-hour
movement to reduce the working day from 10 to eight hours began after the Civil
War. It was a major aim of the National Labor Union, whose first congress met
in 1866. By 1868 congress and six states passed an eight-hour legislation. In
1884 the National Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Assemblies decided
to call for a general strike on May 1, 1886, to enforce demands for employers
to observe the eight-hour day. In 1947, amidst the anti-Communist Cold War
hysteria, the US Veterans of Foreign Wars renamed May 1 as "Loyalty
Day" and a joint session of Congress later made the pronouncement
official.
In many
countries, the May 1 holiday was obtained by trade union agitation supported by
socialist parties. However, in Germany where such agitation had proved
fruitless, it was instituted in 1933 as a gift from Hitler, being promptly
followed by the abolition of trade unions. In the United Kingdom, a May Day
Bank Holiday was instituted in 1978 for trade unionists to celebrate, but was
held on the first Monday in May to minimize the damage to business.
In China, Labor
Day was extended to 3 days during the 1990s. The Chinese government made it a
seven-day holiday by moving the prior and upcoming weekends together with these
three days. This holiday allowed millions of Chinese people to travel during
this period. The Chinese government reduced this holiday period down to one day
in 2008, while simultaneously reviving three traditional Chinese holidays: the
Dragon Boat Festival, Tomb-Sweeping Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival.
