History and traditions of celebrating the first day. The first of May - what are we celebrating? Traditions and rituals
The Spring and Labor Day 2020 is celebrated in Russia on May 1st. It is a public holiday and a day off in the country. It is dedicated to all workers. Another popular name for the celebration is May Day.
history of the holiday
The history of the holiday dates back to the middle of the 19th century. In 1856, workers in Australia held mass protests and put forward demands for an eight-hour day. The Australian movement was taken up by the workers of Canada and the USA. On May 1, 1886, a demonstration in Chicago ended in a skirmish with the police and bloodshed. In July 1889, in Paris, the congress of the Second International decided to hold annual May Day demonstrations in memory of the dead.
In Russia, the first festive events and actions were held in 1891 in St. Petersburg. In 1918, the government of the RSFSR decided to celebrate May 1 as a public holiday, International Day. In 1972, it received the name "International Workers' Day - May Day" and began to be celebrated on May 1 and 2. In 1992, it was renamed the Spring and Labor Day. Until 2005, May 1 and 2 were official non-working holidays in Russia. In accordance with the Federal Law of December 29, 2004 No. 201-FZ “On Amending Article 112 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation”, only May 1 is a day off.
Traditions and rituals
On May 1, trade unions, communist, anarchist and alternative political parties organize actions and parades, which highlight slogans for workers' rights. Concerts and entertainment programs with the participation of pop stars are held on the squares of the cities.
The first persons of the state send postcards, diplomas, thanks, awards and valuable gifts to distinguished workers.
On May Day, not only workers are celebrated, but also the onset of the last month of spring, symbolizing the flowering of all life and the approach of summer. On this holiday, the inhabitants of Russia arrange May Day: picnics, trips out of town, fishing, to the country. During such forays into nature, they cook dishes on fire, sing songs with a guitar, play games.
For many citizens of the Russian Federation, the May 1 holiday has lost its original political and social meaning and has become an occasion to meet friends, colleagues and enjoy outdoor recreation.
Contrary to popular belief, May Day was not invented in the Soviet Union. As early as 1856, Australian workers took to the streets demanding a shorter working day. This idea was not crowned with success immediately, but they had a holiday.
Thirty years later, in the first days of May 1886, workers' rallies took place in Canada and the United States. On May 4, 6 people died in Chicago, the people got angry and came out again. As a result of the explosion and shootout, 8 policemen and 4 workers were killed, and dozens of wounded appeared. The instigators caught were executed in a demonstrative manner - and then posthumously acquitted, since their non-involvement in the explosion was proved.
It is in memory of these events that since 1890 the day of solidarity of the workers of the whole world has been celebrated.
In the Russian Empire, the holiday was unofficial. It was first celebrated with a million-strong demonstration in 1918. The holiday was called International Day. The name "May Day" changed from time to time, as a result, it became known as the Day of International Solidarity of Workers.
On this day, in the cities and villages of the Union, people took to the main streets and avenues to demonstrate their loyalty to the socialist course of development, the pursuit of common ideals and other evidence of loyalty to the authorities. For many, it also meant “not losing the bonus” or “getting time off when you need it”: the closer to the 90s, the less willing to strive for communism for free. Solidarity was expressed, as a rule, in slogans that took into account the acuteness of the moment: if in some country of the decaying West the capitalists oppressed the workers, the latter were certainly pitied.
Labor Day has paradoxically become a holiday: there is no one to work when everyone is at the demonstration. The second of May was also declared a holiday so that people could go to nature or to the country. It turned out to be very convenient. By the way, the word “May Day”, which is now partly forgotten, did not mean the demonstration itself, but precisely such a celebration the next day.
What is the name of May 1 today
Since 1992, the holiday of spring and labor has been celebrated in Russia, as it is called now. Official demonstrations are still being held, but they are organized by different parties that have received permission to march, you can join those whose slogans are closer to you. However, for most Russians, these are now just extra days off that you can spend at your discretion.
The holiday of May 1 is still celebrated in the CIS, in the countries of Europe and both Americas, as well as in Asia (and not only in China and North Korea, but also, for example, in Thailand).
Holidays
May 1, 2019
Many countries of the world know what holiday today is, in these countries 05/01/2019 Labor Day is celebrated, previously it was called International Workers' Day.
Labor Day (Labor Day)
On May 1, 1886, American workers went on strike to demand an 8-hour day. This strike and workers' demonstration ended in clashes between the demonstrators and the police and bloodshed.
The Paris Congress of the Second International in July 1889, in memory of this action of workers in Chicago, decided to hold demonstrations of workers every year on May 1st. For the first time, the Day of International Solidarity of Workers was celebrated in 1890 in such countries of the world: in Austria-Hungary, in Belgium, in Germany, in Denmark, in Spain, in Italy, in the USA, in Norway, in France, in Sweden and in some others. countries.
Today, the bright spring holiday Labor Day is celebrated in 142 countries of the world. Folk festivals, fairs, performances by artists, peaceful processions and many other entertainment events are organized on this day. For many, this is now another day off when you can just relax and spend time with your family.
Holiday of unity of the people of Kazakhstan
In Kazakhstan, the First of May holiday has undergone changes since the times of the Soviet Union, today it is a state holiday and is celebrated every year as the Holiday of the Unity of the People of Kazakhstan. The holiday began to be celebrated in 1996 according to the decree of the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev. On this day, festive bright spring events are held in the multinational Republic of Kazakhstan to unite all the peoples who live in this state.
Living day
- a holiday among the Slavs
The Slavs, deep after midnight on May 1, began a spring holiday - Zhivin's day. Alive in Slavic means "giving life" - this is the goddess of life, spring, fertility and zhita-grain.
According to legend, the Goddess of Spring Alive was the daughter of Lada, the wife of Dazhbog, she was considered the giver of the Life Force of the Family, which makes all living things alive. Alive is the goddess of the Life-Giving Forces of Nature, reviving spring bubbling waters, the first green shoots, she is the patroness of girls and young wives.
In Christianity, the goddess Alive among the Slavs was replaced by the cult of Paraskeva Pyatnitsa.
Women were supposed to take brooms on Zhivin's day, and performing a ritual dance around the fire, cleanse the place of evil spirits, thus glorifying Living, reviving nature and sending spring to Earth. Everyone on that day, clearing themselves of the long winter's obsessions, jumped over the Fire.
The whole day of the first of May (travnia in Slavic) was devoted to rest. By the evening of this day, ritual fires were made along the banks of the rivers, they bathed, purifying themselves in the cold spring water.
Unusual holidays
On May 1, in addition to official holidays, unusual funny holidays can be celebrated: Tangled Legs Day and Wind Ride Day
Tangled Legs Day
What a funny holiday! It was apparently invented by someone who went to a demonstration on May 1 and returned home every year with tangled legs. Yes, this is understandable, because today is May 1!
Wind Ride Day
It's nice to ride, blowing in the warm May wind. When, if not today, on the holiday of May 1, can you arrange a day of rides with the wind? Let the wind in your face, let the sun in your eyes, this day will never be more pleasant!
Church holiday according to the folk calendar
Kuzma Ogorodnik
Few people know what holiday the Orthodox have today. On May 1, Christians honor the Monk Cosmas of Chalcedon, whom the people, to the glory of the Lord, called the creator of the canons. On this day, in the forests and groves, the cuckoo begins to crow, so the day was called the cuckoo. The people on May 1 had such signs: if the cuckoo cuckooed that day, then it's time to sow flax, and if the cuckoo cuckoos on a dry tree, then there will be frosts. It was believed among the people that if the cuckoo flies around the village that day, it means there will be a fire.
According to tradition, beets and carrots were sown on Kuzma Ogorodnik. In Russia, only women were engaged in planting and weeding vegetables in the garden. Digging the beds, they said: "Kuzma came - looked into the cellars, took a shovel - dug up the earth near the hut."
Before sowing vegetables, peasant women came in the morning to secret springs - votive students, soaked the seeds for planting in spring water, and threw copper coins at the bottom of the spring. Or they simply soaked the seeds for three morning dawns in river water. They certainly did this secretly, otherwise they thought an envious eye could bring a lot of harm and there would be a bad harvest. The people said: "An alien eye is envious, and envy that rust will eat the whole crop."
It was believed among the people that if you yourself eat at least one seed from the seeds prepared for planting, all the grown vegetables will be devoured by a worm.
The weather on May 1 was judged by its signs. If May had a warm beginning, then cold will begin at the end of the month, and if the beginning was cold, then at the end of the month it will be warm.
The peasants said: "To plow for Kuzma in a shirt - to sow in a fur coat." May, if it turned out to be cold, then the year should have been fertile. Heavy rains in early May foreshadowed a good harvest. With the first warm May rain, the girls wetted their hair so that it would grow thickly like May grass.
A person who was born on Kuzma's day had to be a good gardener, had to take care of vegetables, and bend his back over the beds. Only then it was believed that his fate would turn out well.
Name day May 1 Vasily, Victor, Vissarion, Yefim, Ivan, Kuzma, Mikhail, Tamara, Felix
May 1st in history
1948 - Formation of the DPRK.
1950 - Polygamy, infanticide, and child marriage are banned in the People's Republic of China.
1951 - US-funded Radio Free Europe began broadcasting to Eastern European countries from Munich.
1961 - Fidel Castro announced that there would no longer be elections in Cuba.
1964 - Died Nikolai Leonidovich Dukhov (b. 1904), Soviet designer of armored vehicles, nuclear and thermonuclear weapons, three times Hero of Socialist Labor, laureate of the Lenin and State Prizes of the USSR.
1978 - In the UK, the first of May is celebrated as a public holiday for the first time.
1978 - Aram Khachaturian, Armenian composer, People's Artist of the USSR, laureate of the State Prize of the USSR, Hero of Socialist Labor, author of the famous ballets "Spartacus" and "Gayane" (b. 1903) died.
1987 - The law on ITD (Individual Labor Activity) was adopted in the USSR.
1993 - In Moscow, while trying to block an opposition demonstration on the occasion of May 1, clashes between protesters and the police took place, as a result of which 1 policeman died, from 600 to 800 people were injured.
2004 - Hungary, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic and Estonia joined the European Union.
2009 - Same-sex marriage legalized in Sweden.
Many people no longer remember which holiday is celebrated in our country on May 1, 2020. At first it was called the Day of the International, later - the Day of International Solidarity of Workers - the First of May, and now - the Holiday of Spring and Labor.
History and traditions of celebrating May 1
We will tell you which holiday is celebrated on May 1. Its history began in 1886, when American workers organized a strike and demonstration that ended in a bloody clash with the police.
This holiday, which is celebrated in 140 countries of the world, has become a symbol of the class struggle and the unity of workers who defend their rights.
May Day was one of the main holidays of the Land of the Soviets. Since 1918, according to the Labor Code of the RSFSR, May 1 has become a non-working day.
And according to the decree of the Central Executive Committee of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR "On holidays dedicated to the International Day, and on special days of rest", since 1928 the next day, May 2, became a day off.
In the Soviet years, festive demonstrations were held in our country on this day, in which workers carried banners with portraits of political figures, leaders in production, appeals, slogans, etc., and military parades were organized.
The official May Day demonstration in the USSR was last held in 1990.
On May 1, 1991, a rally was held on Red Square in Moscow against the increase in prices for consumer goods, organized by trade union organizations.
In 1993, at a rally followed by a procession in the capital, there were clashes between demonstrators and riot police.
How is May 1st celebrated in 2020?
The traditions of the Soviet May Day are a thing of the past, but some customs remain. Now on May 1, there are demonstrations, which are timed to coincide with the actions of trade unions, political parties and movements of various directions. Street processions, exhibitions, fairs, concerts and other entertainment events are organized.
Talking about what holiday falls on May 1, one cannot help but recall another of his traditions - “may days”. Before the revolution, they were illegal gatherings of workers outside the city, and today they are picnics.
Talking about what holiday is celebrated on May 1, it must be said that over the years, May Day has lost its former political character. We perceive it as an opportunity to spend free time with our family and friends, to have a good rest.
The list of holidays in Russia on October 1, 2018 will acquaint you with state, professional, international, folk, church, unusual holidays that are celebrated in the country on this day. You can choose an event of interest and learn its history, traditions and rituals.
Holidays October 1
On October 1, Russia celebrates 8 holidays, including 5 international and 3 professional ones.
International Day of Older Persons
International Day of Older Persons is celebrated every year on October 1 around the world. Recall that it was established on December 14, 1990, the initiator of its creation was the UN General Assembly.
It can be said that the establishment of this holiday was, as it were, a continuation of the Vienna International Plan of Action on Aging, adopted in 1982. And in 1991, the UN Principles for Older Persons were adopted.
During the Second World Assembly, a Political Declaration and an International Plan of Action were adopted. It is safe to say that they contributed to a change in the attitude of society towards its elderly members. At this event, for the first time, governments around the world comprehensively studied issues on aging. The problems of providing employment for the elderly, improving medical care, increasing their incomes, and improving social security were considered.
Great attention was paid to the problems of older women, who make up the majority in this age group. After all, as you know, all over the world, the average life expectancy of women exceeds the average life expectancy of men. In addition, a significant increase in the number of older people in the world has required a serious review of their role in society and attitudes towards them in general.
One of the most important points of the adopted resolution can be called the recognition of the fact that older people are able to contribute to the development of society. Therefore, they should not be deprived of this opportunity. Unfortunately, our pensioners cannot yet afford the kind of life that American or European grandparents lead. It is to be hoped that this situation will change over time.
The Day of the Elderly was originally celebrated only in Europe, a little later it appeared in the United States. And since the end of the 80s, the holiday has already been celebrated in other countries of the world. On a special scale, this holiday is usually celebrated in Scandinavian countries.
day of the elderly
In Russia, October 1 is also celebrated as the Day of the Elderly, but here it has a slightly different name - the Day of the Elderly. The Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation on the emergence of this new holiday was issued on June 1, 1992. Since then, this holiday has appeared in Russia and has become quite popular.
World Architecture Day
The construction of any structures, buildings, structures is preceded by the design stage. It is based on the specification. The appearance, operating conditions, the list of materials used, the functionality of the objects are determined. A professional holiday is dedicated to specialists engaged in such activities.
When they celebrate
World Architecture Day is celebrated every year on the first Monday in October. In 2018, it falls on October 1 and is not a national holiday in Russia. The action was established by the International Union of Architects (UIA) in 1985.
Who is celebrating
Architects take part in the celebrations, regardless of length of service and place of work. They are joined by engineers, builders, heads of design bureaus, workshops, support staff. The event is celebrated by their relatives, friends, acquaintances, close people. World Architecture Day is considered by students, graduate students and teachers of specialized educational institutions, as well as their graduates.
History and traditions of the holiday
The event started in 1985. At a meeting of the International Union of Architects, it was decided to establish a professional holiday. After 11 years, the 20th General Assembly approved the postponement of the event from the first Monday in July to the first Monday in October.
The chosen date has a symbolic meaning. It is timed to coincide with World Housing Day, held under the auspices of the United Nations. Both holidays are ideologically very close, they profess the common goals of improving the comfort and ergonomics of settlements and places of residence. They have themes installed in advance.
The International Day of Architecture is marked by exhibitions, symposiums, seminars and conferences. Participants make presentations on industry issues. Proposals are being made to improve the legislation. The possibilities of applying new technologies are considered. Particular attention is paid to environmentally friendly materials used in the construction of structures, as well as energy efficiency. It allows you to reduce the cost of purchasing heat carriers and electricity.
In early October, the head of state issues a decree conferring the honorary title "People's Architect of the Russian Federation". It is awarded to people who have made a significant contribution to the development of the industry. Festivals are held, which have become a gathering place for the leading experts of the region. Excursions and exhibitions are organized, layouts and photographs of objects are demonstrated. You can personally see the outstanding work.
At the festive table, those gathered say warm words, wishes for health and success in responsible work, and exchange gifts. Congratulations, toasts ending with the clink of glasses sound.
Ground Forces Day
Ground forces have always been the most massive and important branch of the Russian Armed Forces.
The history of the creation of the Ground Forces goes far back into the depths of centuries. It can be said with confidence that the ground forces of our country have always played and continue to play the most important role in achieving victory over the enemy and protecting national interests. Until recently, in Russia, so rich in all sorts of dates, there was no holiday dedicated to the ground forces. And only by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of May 31, 2006 No. 549, October 1 was established as the Day of the Ground Forces of the Russian Federation.
history of the holiday
And this day was not chosen by chance. It was on October 1, 1550 that a historically turning point in the construction and development of the regular Russian army took place. On this day, the Tsar of All Russia Ivan IV (the Terrible) issued the Sentence “On the placement in Moscow and the surrounding districts of a chosen thousand servicemen”, which laid the foundations for the first permanent army, which had signs of a regular army. In accordance with this decree, archery regiments and a permanent guard service were created, and the artillery detachment was separated into an independent branch of the military.
The archers were armed with improved artillery, mine-explosives, and handguns. In addition, the system of recruitment and military service in the local army was streamlined, the centralized management of the army and its supply were organized, and permanent service in peacetime and wartime was established.
International Music Day
According to the new direction of prenatal education, the perception of the world by a small creature begins with sounds. The human embryo receives the very first impressions through the thickness of the amniotic sac, capturing the slightest vibrations and sound vibrations.
If you dig deep into the centuries, when a person could not yet speak, music already existed in the form of sounds: lulling lowing, frightening roars, and so on. It is part of life on earth. We are surrounded by a huge number of sounds and melodies, most of which are not caught by our hearing or are perceived in certain periods of development (children's sensitivity to ultrasound).
An international professional holiday is dedicated to this type of art.
When is it held
International Music Day is celebrated every year on October 1 all over the world. The event was approved at the 15th General Assembly of the IMC (International Music Council at UNESCO) in 1973, and the official celebration began in 1975.
Who is celebrating
International Music Day 2018 gathers everyone who wants to join the great and eternal art: professional musicians, artists, teachers, vocal students and ordinary people with their direct participation.
history of the holiday
One of those to whom modernity owes the existence of this international date is a citizen of the USSR, a Russian composer, pianist and well-known public figure D. D. Shostakovich. The most famous musician of the last century and doctor of art history in the late 40s. became a political exile, was deprived of the title of professor at the Moscow and Leningrad conservatories and fired from there.
His "holidays" lasted more than 10 years, but already in 1955 Shostakovich's career was restored, and a new creative upsurge began. The musical legacy he left is performed in various countries. Like many of the world's classic masterpieces, it has received a new direction in modern popular rock processing.
Probably, any medieval festival or carnival, as well as palace balls, can be safely attributed to the prerequisites for the emergence of the holiday, if not to the event itself.
World Habitat Day (World Housing Day)
Problems with housing and living conditions are among the most acute in the political and economic life of any state. The situation is changing for the better every year (new houses are being built, new lands are being developed), but the shortage of square meters per capita is still great. It is with the goal of providing housing for all the world's inhabitants by the year 2000 that World Habitat Day was established. Despite the fact that the goal was not achieved by the set period, the celebration of this date continues annually.
When does it pass
World Habitat Day is celebrated every first Monday in October. The date was set at the 119th plenary meeting (40th session) of the UN General Assembly in resolution No. A / RES / 40/202 of December 17, 1985. In 2018, events are held on October 1. Russia joins the celebrations.
Who notes
World Habitat Day is celebrated by those who, having housing, remained indifferent to this problem, especially the current situation in undeveloped countries, as well as those who are concerned about the living conditions of people: land and air pollution, the growth of diseases in cities and much more. Every year the celebrations are dedicated to a new theme.
history of the holiday
In 1976, during the UN Vancouver Conference on Sustainable Development of Settlements, the topic of housing and related living conditions was given a key position. The Commission on Human Settlements worked on this issue and made its recommendations to the 40th session of the UN General Assembly. The result of their consideration was the adoption of a decision on the approval of this holiday.
The event received the name “Habitat” as a result of the translation of this word from the Latin language (habitabilis - “a place that has a population and is suitable for living (habitat)”. Translated from English, this means “living conditions.” In addition, this is the name of the UN Center by settlements.
World Vegetarian Day
Vegetarianism is not just a way of life, but also a kind of philosophy that people who eat meat products categorically refuse to accept. However, at the moment, approximately 10% of the population of our planet are vegetarians. This is quite a significant figure, so it is not surprising that they have their own significant date, called World Vegetarian Day.
It has been celebrated every year for several decades and falls on October 1st. Moreover, a wide variety of events dedicated to this topic are held in different countries for a whole month and end on November 1 with the International Vegan Day, that is, a person who adheres to the strictest principles and does not eat not only meat, but also fish, seafood , milk and dairy products.
The history of the holiday
The initiative to declare October 1 as World Vegetarian Day was made in 1977 by representatives of the North American Vegetarian Society. In 1978, they were supported by the International Vegetarian Union. The main goal of all these people was to spread the ideas of vegetarianism among the world community and the desire to prove the enormous benefits of this lifestyle for human health.
Therefore, they organize all kinds of actions and flash mobs, which are held both on the streets of cities and in social networks. Participants of these events make calls to stop killing animals for food, share their own experience and try to win over as many citizens as possible.
Arina Shipovnitsa
The national holiday of Arina Shipovnitsa is celebrated on October 1, 2018 (September 18 is the date according to the old style). On this day, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the martyrs Ariadne of Promissia (Phrygian) and Irina of Egypt.
In honor of which of the saints the holiday is named is unknown. After all, Arina is both an abbreviated form from Ariadne, and a variant of the pronunciation of the name Irina.
About the martyr Irene of Egypt, it is only known that, being a Christian, she opposed the pagans during the reign of the Roman emperor Aurelius. Like many others, in particular Sophia (who is also remembered on October 1), she was tried, subjected to numerous tortures and beheaded.
The martyr Ariadne lived in the town of Promission in the Phrygian region. She was the concubine of the head of the city until she refused to sacrifice to the pagan gods and announced publicly that she was a Christian. For this, they beat her, tortured her body, tearing out pieces of meat with sharp hooks, and threw her into prison. After a long deduction without food and water, Ariadne was released and left the city.
Traditions and rituals
On this day, wild rose is harvested and dried. According to legend, the berries collected specifically on Arina Rosehipovnitsa have the miraculous property of double power to heal various ailments. They are also used in cooking.
Seeing a crane wedge in the sky, knowledgeable people will definitely wish them a good journey and a speedy return. Among the people, this bird symbolizes the arrival of warmth and is considered the messenger of God. According to legend, in the autumn they carry away the souls of the dead, and in the spring they show the way to the souls of babies who are soon to be born.
Birthday postcard
It is customary to celebrate the birthday of a postcard every year on the first of October. Despite the fact that such printed and colorful souvenirs have practically disappeared from the everyday life of most people, the date is celebrated all over the world. After all, just a few years ago, for every holiday, millions of families received dozens of beautiful cards with thematic drawings, on the back of which wishes and congratulations were written in calligraphic handwriting.
history of the holiday
On the last day of autumn 1865, it was proposed to create a postal open card. This idea was introduced by von Stefan, who then headed a series of post offices of the North German Confederation. Unfortunately, that year the proposal did not find much support and approval from the direct participants of the profile conference.
The possibility of an open card was safely forgotten, but after 3 years Pardubica and Friedlein, who were book dealers, offered to issue postcards with several printed phrases on the reverse side. Buyers had only to underline the necessary expressions. But this option was completely rejected.
In 1869, one of the newspapers in Vienna published the idea of an economics professor named Hermann. He suggested creating postcards that were very reminiscent of the previous options. But the innovator pointed out the need to reduce the signature on the back to 20 words. This creative and useful idea was approved.
So that the activities of the Austrian postal department were not hindered, the place for the message was made strictly limited. On October 1 of the same year, the so-called correspondent card was issued. That is why the date of her birth falls on this date, which has been celebrated all over the world since time immemorial.