May 1st is widely recognized as May Day , which has two main significances:
- International Workers' Day (Labour Day) : May 1st is celebrated globally as a day honoring laborers and the working class. It originated from the labor movement's struggle for an eight-hour workday, notably marked by the 1886 Haymarket affair in Chicago. It is a public holiday in many countries featuring parades, rallies, and demonstrations advocating workers' rights and social justice
- Traditional May Day Festival : Historically, May 1st is also a European spring festival marking the beginning of summer. Celebrations include dancing around maypoles, crowning a May Queen, decorating with flowers and greenery, feasting, and various folk customs. This festival has pagan origins and is distinct from the labor-related observance, though both share the same date
In summary, May 1st is both a day of cultural springtime festivities and an internationally recognized day of labor solidarity and activism.