The holiday, which is celebrated in Russia, the United States, a number of countries in Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia, is known under several names - International Workers' Day, Spring and Labor Day, Labor Day, Spring Day.
Modern Georgia does not celebrate Spring and Labor Day; accordingly, on this day, the inhabitants of the country are busy with their daily affairs and worries.
History
The tradition of the celebration is associated with the events that took place in Chicago in the 19th century. American workers staged an eight-hour day strike on May 1, 1886, which ended in a bloody clash with the police.
In memory of those tragic events, the Paris Congress of the Second International in July 1889 declared May 1 as the Day of Workers' Solidarity and proposed annually celebrating it with demonstrations around the world.
For the first time, May 1 was celebrated in 1890 by the workers of Belgium, France, Germany, USA, Denmark, Spain and some other countries. The main slogan of the demonstrations was the demand for an eight-hour working day.
The Brussels Congress of the Second International in 1891 gave each country the right to independently set the date and form of celebration on May 1. As a result, in the UK and some other countries, the demonstrations were postponed to the first Sunday in May.
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In Russia
The first festive meeting of workers in Petrograd (St. Petersburg) was organized by the Social Democratic Group of the revolutionary Mikhail Brusnev on May 1, 1891.
PERVOMAYSKAYA DEMONSTRATION RED SQUARE / SPUTNIK / RIA NEWS
But the official and annual holiday on May 1 or May Day, as many Russians call it, became only after the October Revolution of 1917. The country's leadership decided to hold demonstrations of workers and military parades on this day.
For the first time, a television report on the military parade and demonstration of workers on Red Square was carried out on May 1, 1956. Since that time, festive events on Red Square have been broadcast annually by central TV channels.
In 1970, the Fundamentals of Labor Legislation of the USSR assigned a new name to the holiday: May 1 and 2 officially became the Days of International Workers' Solidarity. May 2, as a rule, were "May Day", when people got together and had picnics in nature.
For many years, May Day was the main public holiday in the USSR. On May 1, 1990, the official May Day demonstration took place for the last time.
After the collapse of the USSR, this day was renamed the "Holiday of Spring and Labor."
Traditions
On May 1, peaceful processions and demonstrations of trade unions demanding better working conditions are traditionally held around the world. The first persons of the state present the distinguished workers with certificates, awards and valuable gifts.
On this holiday, not only workers are honored, but also the onset of the last month of spring, which symbolizes the flourishing of all living things and the approach of summer. On this day, festivities, fairs, concerts and entertainment programs with the participation of pop stars are held.
For many Russians, May Day has lost its original political and social meaning and has become an occasion to meet with friends, colleagues and have a pleasant outdoor recreation, accompanied by delicious and juicy barbecue.
Material prepared on the basis of open sources
