The Day of International Solidarity of All Workers is also called the Labor Day. In the 19th century the working conditions of the workers were heavy - 15 hours a day, without days off. The working people began to unite in their unions and demand better working conditions. In Chicago, a peaceful rally of workers demanding the installation of an eight-hour day was brutally dispersed with the police, four people were killed, and many were arrested. At the congress in Paris, they called on May 1 to call Labor Day in 1889 in memory of the resistance of the workers in Chicago to exploiters and capitalists. Holiday Labor Day is celebrated in Japan, USA, England and in many states as a sign of unity of workers in the struggle for their own rights.
May Day in Russia
In Russia, May Day began to celebrate since 1890. Then the first strike took place in the history of the tsarist Russian Empire in honor of the Day of Workers' Solidarity. After the revolution, May 1 became the state Labor Day, it was celebrated regularly and on a large scale. On this day there were festive demonstrations of working people. They became a nationwide tradition, the columns of demonstrators marched through the streets of all cities to solemn music and cheerful discourses. The events were shown on television and radio.
Since 1992, in Russia, the holiday has been renamed into a similar Day of Spring and Labor. Celebrate it now all in different ways. Some go to rallies, others - for the city to rest, to admire the spring nature, to have a picnic.
In modern Russia, May Day traditionally meets with rallies and demonstrations of workers and trade unions, folk festivals and concerts.
May 1 is perceived as a universal celebration, carries a great emotional charge associated with the feeling of a national holiday and the spring awakening of nature.