May Day, the 1st of May, is celebrated internationally as a day to honor the contributions of workers. Started in the United States as an outgrowth of the Haymarket labor unrest of 1886, it was co-opted by communist governments worldwide and used to celebrate that form of government. Labor Day is instead celebrated in the United States on the first Monday of September. With the general demise of communist governments it has evolved into a day to celebrate labor and progressive causes, although demonstrations are still held by socialist and anarchist groups around the world.
External links
- History of May Day, by William F. Jasper, at The New American