May 1st is the correct name for the holiday. History and traditions of celebrating the first day. Church holiday according to the folk calendar
For many, May 1 is one of the most beloved holidays. Despite the fact that it falls on the last month of spring, it is he who is considered a symbol of the beginning of warmth and sunshine. And for Russians, it also means the beginning of the May holidays - a series of days free from the bustle of work and dedicated exclusively to relaxing with family and friends.
Despite such love for this date, few people know how the history of May 1 began. If the older generation still remembers the scale of the celebration during the Soviet Union, then for the younger generation this day often means only an additional day off. But at the same time, May Day has a rich history, which will be interesting for everyone to get acquainted with.
The origins of the holiday
This date takes its beginning in the American city of Chicago, where on May 1, 1886 a large-scale protest of workers took place. Tired of unbearable conditions, people demanded that the number of working hours per day be limited to 8. But the rally not only did not achieve its goal, but also led to numerous casualties among the protesters.
The American authorities, who were not going to reduce the 15-hour working day, ordered the police to take harsh measures against the protesters. As a result, a massive fire was opened, which claimed hundreds of lives. Despite this, workers continued to protest on May 1 each year, demanding that their harsh working conditions be taken into account. Such rallies often ended in real fights with the police. It was in memory of the first Chicago protest that the date began to be celebrated, first of all, as Labor Day.
Such mass demonstrations did not go unnoticed. The Congress of the Second International, which was held in Paris in 1889, decided to call May 1 the World Day of Workers' Solidarity. This was done in honor of the workers of Chicago, who were the first to decide to repulse the existing system.
In addition, it was decided at the Congress that people of all states have the right to go to rallies annually on May 1 and put forward their demands, which are of a social nature. Thus, Labor Day was officially recognized at the state level.
The origin of the holiday in Russia
The history of the May 1 holiday in Russia begins in 1890, when world communists celebrated this date for the first time. It happened in Warsaw. Inspired by the example of their American colleagues and the actions of the Poles, Russian workers gradually came to the idea of starting protests. The first mass demonstrations of the proletariat were celebrated in 1897, when the holiday acquired a political color.
But, despite the fact that the Labor Day was officially recognized by the authorities, mass festivities were informal for a long time. It was only in 1901 that the first slogans were noticed openly demanding a change of power. By 1912, the number of representatives of the proletariat participating in the May demonstrations reached 400,000. And already in 1917, whole millions of people were marching through the streets, demanding the overthrow of the tsarist government. It was in this year that the Russian holiday became official, and demonstrations and parades began to be held openly.
The coming of the Bolsheviks to power became an important stage in the celebration of May 1, and the history of the holiday took on a different color. The status of this day has also changed. Now the date has been given the title of "the largest holiday in the Soviet Union", which must be celebrated by all the inhabitants of the country.
In each settlement, entire work teams walked along the streets, carrying posters in their hands that reflected the existing ideology. And the reward for the most distinguished was the opportunity to participate in the main parade of the country, which was held on Red Square in the capital.
Despite the fact that initially May Day had a political character, which is why it was celebrated quite strictly, over time it turned into a favorite folk holiday. Slogans calling for action against the capitalist order were replaced by banners on which solemn congratulations were written.
People began to celebrate this date in a family or friendly circle, enjoying a two-day weekend. Traditionally, the first day was devoted to parades, during which political speeches were replaced by congratulations, large-scale processions were held, covered by television. But the second day could be spent on a fun May Day with loved ones and relax before working days.
That is how May 1 or the Spring and Labor Day gradually turned from an annual political rally into a favorite national celebration. Red flags and balloons are the essential attributes of this date. The older generation recalls with pleasure what a unique atmosphere reigned throughout the country at that time. The first real warmth, the feeling of the magic of spring and the opportunity to spend two extra days off with loved ones - this is what May Day symbolized for the working class of the Soviet Union.
May 1 in modern Russia
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, this date is still celebrated. But the former excitement around the holiday is gone, and the main joy from it is the extra days off. The last solemn parade dedicated to May 1 was held in 1990.
Now this day is traditionally celebrated with a picnic, and for many residents of the country this is an additional opportunity to work in the garden.
Despite the fact that the holiday no longer pleases people on such a scale, its significance has not been forgotten. The famous slogan "Peace! Work! May!" still continues to sound in congratulations. The warm holiday, which rallied the entire working class, will remain among the most beloved.
May 1 in various countries
This day is celebrated not only in the USA and Russia. The number of countries that have joined the celebration of a significant date is 142. Most of them celebrate it on May 1, but there are states where celebrations are held on the first Monday of the month.
This holiday is especially loved in:
- Spain;
- Germany;
- Sweden;
- Greece;
- France;
- Italy;
- Holland.
Each country has its own tradition of celebrating May Day. For example, young Spaniards on this day present their halves with the first spring flowers that bloom by this time.
And in Germany, large-scale festivities, entire fairs and fun dances are held. In addition, there is a wonderful tradition here - young people in love plant a tree in front of the window of their chosen one.
On the night of April 30 to May 1, giant fires are lit in Swedish cities, in which garbage that has accumulated all year is burned. After that, it's time for dancing and fun. And in the morning, various rallies in support of the working class begin.
In Greece, this day is a holiday symbolizing the change of seasons. Young girls collect the first flowers, weave wreaths from them and decorate their homes.
In France, May Day is associated with lilies of the valley. It is these flowers, personifying happiness, that the French give when congratulating each other.
Italians on this day return to the pagan origins of the holiday. Flower festivals are held in honor of the goddesses Maya and Flora.
In Holland, May Day is the time of the Tulip Festival. Many people from all over the world specially come here to look at this colorful spectacle.
Thus, May 1 is a wonderful holiday that unites different nations. It does not matter which version of the celebration is held in the country. In any case, this is a bright spring holiday that brings a lot of positive emotions.
Who has Angel Day today and what folk signs you should pay attention to in order to determine the weather for the near future.
We will also remind you which holidays are celebrated on May 1 and which celebrities were born on this day.
Labor Day (Spring and Labor Day)- originally called the Day of International Solidarity of Workers. It was started by Chicago workers who went on strike on May 1, 1886, demanding a reduction in the working day to 8 hours. The rally ended in a clash with law enforcement officers. In memory of him, the Paris Congress of the Second International in 1889 decided to hold demonstrations on May 1 as a sign of the solidarity of the workers.
World Asthma Day- celebrated since 1998 on the first Tuesday of May. Bronchial asthma is considered one of the most common chronic diseases, it affects about 300 million people.
Day of solidarity of all solidaries
First day of the May binge
The day when we take a break from our favorite work
Maybug's birthday
Stash Search Day
Tangled Legs Day
Birthday postage stamp
Wind Ride Day
Hawaiian dance festival
May 1st is remembered in history for the introduction of the first postage stamp, the car racing tragedy, and the creation of North Korea.
305 - The Roman emperor Diocletian, who ruled the state for more than 20 years, relinquished power. His reign is notorious for its persecution of Christianity.
381 - The Second Ecumenical Council (also known as the First Council of Constantinople) - the local council of the Eastern hierarchs, convened by Emperor Theodosius I the Great, completed the creation of the state Christian church.
1840 - The first postage stamp went on sale in Great Britain. She was black, in denominations of 1 penny - accordingly, she was called the “black penny”.
1876 - The Marriage of Figaro was staged for the first time. The premiere took place in Vienna.
1948 - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) is established.
1994 - Famous Brazilian Formula 1 driver Ayrton Senna died in an accident at the San Marino Grand Prix. He was 34 years old.
1998 - the court found guilty of the genocide of the former Prime Minister of Rwanda, Jean Kambanda. He was accused of killing representatives of the Tutsi tribe in 1994.
According to the church calendar, Anton, Vasily, Victor, Vissarion, Efim, Ivan, Kuzma, Mikhail, Felix celebrate this day.
An American architect, a Soviet animator and an English writer were born on this day.
1672 - Joseph Addison, English politician, playwright, poet, one of the first journalists in Europe.
1764 - Benjamin Latrobe, American engineer and architect Latrobe stood at the origins of the classical and neo-Gothic styles in US architecture. Author of projects for the Second Bank of the United States in Philadelphia and the Catholic Cathedral in Baltimore. According to his project, the Capitol in Washington was also rebuilt.
1852 - Martha Connery (aka Calamity Jane or Calamity Jane), scout and shooter from the Wild West, a member of several military companies during the wars with the Indians. The heroine of many films and books.
1905 - Alexander Borisov, Soviet actor who starred in the films Mussorgsky, Maxim Perepelitsa, True Friends.
1916 - Glenn Ford, American film actor ("A Fistful of Miracles", "Superman", "Carmen")
1917 - Fyodor Khitruk, Soviet animator, screenwriter and director. "Father" over 200 animated characters in more than 100 cartoons, including "Winnie the Pooh", "The Adventures of Boniface".
1929 - Igor Akimushkin, Soviet biologist and writer. He wrote both popular and serious books (The Path of Legends, Traces of Unseen Beasts, The Disappeared World).
1946 - John Woo, Hong Kong and American director, known mainly for his action films ("Hard Target", "No Face", "Broken Arrow", "Battle of Red Rock").
According to the national calendar, May 1 is the day of Kuzma Ogorodnik. Our ancestors considered St. Kozma the patron saint of this day - they prayed to him for a good harvest and full bins. According to tradition, on May 1, they were engaged in gardening: they planted and weeded vegetables, first of all, carrots and beets, as well as potatoes.
If the alder is already blooming, you can sow buckwheat.
If the weather is warm today, the second half of May will be cold.
If bird cherry has turned green, you can start planting potatoes, carrots, and beets.
If willow-bredina and violet have bloomed, it's time to sow the seeds of onions, carrots, radishes, dill and parsley.
If it is dry in the morning and damp in the evening, the weather will be warm in the coming days, no rain is expected.
Russians are looking forward to the May holidays with particular impatience - there are so many days off at the beginning of the month when the summer season opens! But if every baby knows what May 9 is for Russia today, then few people can clearly tell what exactly we celebrate May 1. We are sorting out together with IA "Amitel" about what May Day is.
If we delve deeply into history, then in ancient times our ancestors organized large-scale celebrations that took place at the end of April and the beginning of May. In this way they tried to propitiate the gods before starting work in the fields. The Slavs celebrated the departure of the spring cold, arranged ceremonial bathing in cold water, burned fires, greeted the goddess Zhiva, who, according to legend, revived nature.
The inhabitants of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome worshiped the goddess Maya, who was the patroness of farmers. In the last month of spring, in honor of the goddess and the beginning of the new harvest season, they held a big holiday.
From history, everyone probably remembers that two centuries ago, the working day of the poor lasted from 12 to 15 hours. On April 21, 1856, protest marches were held in Australia by workers who demanded a reduction in the working day to 8 hours and at the same time not to reduce wages. They managed to get their way. And even without bloodshed
In 1886, in the US and Canada, workers also decided to organize rallies and demonstrations in order to achieve an 8-hour day, fixed wages and social security. On this day, every city revolted. However, the center of the protests became Chicago, where about 40,000 workers took to the streets. Here the world failed to solve the matter. Thousands of layoffs of workers followed, demonstrations were dispersed with the help of weapons. A lot of people died. In memory of the dead, the Paris Congress of the Second International declared May 1, 1890 the Day of Solidarity of the Workers of the World and proposed to mark it with demonstrations demanding an 8-hour working day and other social demands. The holiday has become an annual event.
How was May Day celebrated in Russia?
In the Russian Empire, May Day was celebrated for the first time in 1890 in Warsaw. This trend was picked up by St. Petersburg, where in 1981, on May 1, a May Day strike of workers took place. In Moscow, the first May Day took place in 1895. Since 1897, May Days began to be political in nature and were accompanied by mass demonstrations. In 1917, May 1 was celebrated openly for the first time. In all the cities of the country, millions of workers took to the streets with the slogans of the Communist Party "All power to the Soviets", "Down with the capitalist ministers".
In 1918, in post-revolutionary Russia, a law was passed that May 1 would be celebrated at the national level.
In the USSR, the May Day demonstrations were of great importance. It was a really big celebration. Organizations have been preparing for it for weeks. In the first years of Soviet power, military equipment came out to the parade in honor of May 1, staged real performances with acrobatic and gymnastic numbers. It was a real holiday, which was expected.
He had many names. Initially, in the USSR, May 1 was called International Day. In 1930, this day was renamed the Holiday of International Solidarity of the Proletariat. During the Great Patriotic War, it was called the Fighting Holiday of the International Proletariat. After that, the official name appeared - International Labor Day. Since 1997, on May 1, we have been celebrating Spring and Labor Day.
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 remains 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.
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, production leaders, 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.