Dam!!!! When are people going to have some commonsense to stop exchanging greetings on the list?????????????????????????????????????
On 30/04/2011, Nagaraj H <[email protected]> wrote: > dear friends I wish all the workers a happy and a prosperous workers > day on today 1st may 2011. > I would like to remember and give informations about workers days > celebration in different countries. > > > International Workers' Day > Official name International Workers' Day > Contents [hide] > 1 History > 2 Americas > 2.1 Argentina > 2.2 Brazil > 2.3 Canada > 2.4 United States > 3 Asia > 3.1 Bangladesh > 3.2 China > 3.3 India > 3.4 Japan > 3.5 Jordan > 3.6 Malaysia > 3.7 Maldives > 3.8 Nepal > 3.9 Singapore > 3.10 Philippines > 4 Europe > 4.1 Eastern bloc under Communist governments > 4.2 Germany > 4.3 Sweden > 4.4 Portugal > 4.5 Spain > 4.6 Serbia > 4.7 Greece > 4.8 Italy > 4.9 Russia > 4.10 United Kingdom > 5 Africa > 5.1 Egypt > > > Also called May Day > Observed by working people and their labour unions > Date May 1 > Celebrations organized street demonstrations and street marches > Related to May Day, Labor Day, various other Labour Days > > Swedish Social Democratic Party at May Day demonstration in Stockholm, > Sweden in 2006. The party has dominated Swedish politics for nearly a > century. The Trade union palace in Stockholm is seen at the end of the > pictureInternational Workers' Day (also known as May Day) is a > celebration of the international labour movement and left-wing > movements. It commonly sees organized street demonstrations and > marches by working people and their labour unions throughout most of > the world. May 1 is a national holiday in more than 80 countries. It > is also celebrated unofficially in many other countries. > > > [edit] History > International Workers' Day is the commemoration of the 1886 Haymarket > Massacre in Chicago, when, after an unknown person threw a dynamite > bomb at police as they dispersed a public meeting, Chicago police > fired on workers during a general strike for the eight hour workday, > killing several demonstrators and resulting in the deaths of several > police officers, largely from friendly fire. In 1889, the first > congress of the Second International, meeting in Paris for the > centennial of the French Revolution and the Exposition Universelle, > following a proposal by Raymond Lavigne, called for international > demonstrations on the 1890 anniversary of the Chicago protests. May > Day was formally recognized as an annual event at the International's > second congress in 1891. > > Subsequently, the May Day Riots of 1894 occured. In 1904, the > International Socialist Conference meeting in Amsterdam called on "all > Social Democratic Party organizations and trade unions of all > countries to demonstrate energetically on May First for the legal > establishment of the 8-hour day, for the class demands of the > proletariat, and for universal peace." The congress made it "mandatory > upon the proletarian organizations of all countries to stop work on > May 1, wherever it is possible without injury to the workers."[5] > > In many countries, the working classes sought to make May Day an > official holiday, and their efforts largely succeeded. May Day has > long been a focal point for demonstrations by various socialist, > communist and anarchist groups. In some circles, bonfires are lit in > commemoration of the Haymarket martyrs, usually at dawn.[6] May Day > has been an important official holiday in Communist countries such as > the People's Republic of China, Cuba and the former Soviet Union. May > Day celebrations typically feature elaborate popular and military > parades in these countries. > > In the United States and Canada, however, the official holiday for > workers is Labor Day in September. This day was promoted by the > Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor, who organized the first > parade in New York City. After the Haymarket Square riot in May, 1886, > US President Grover Cleveland feared that commemorating Labor Day on > May 1 could become an opportunity to commemorate the riots. Thus he > moved in 1887 to support the Labor Day that the Knights supported.[7] > > In 1955, the Roman Catholic Church dedicated May 1 to "Saint Joseph > The Worker". The Catholic Church considers Saint Joseph the patron > saint of (among others) workers, craftsmen, immigrants[8] and "people > fighting communism".[9] > > Right-wing governments have traditionally sought to repress the > message behind International Workers' Day, with facist governments in > Portugal, Italy, Germany and Spain abolishing the workers' holiday, > and the Conservative party in the UK currently attempting to abolish > the UK's annual May Day Bank Holiday [10] > > [edit] Americas > [edit] Argentina > In Argentina, Workers' Day is an official holidays. Even when it is > associated with labor unions, almost all workers trend to respect it. > > [edit] Brazil > In Brazil, Workers' Day is an official holiday, and unions commemorate > it with day-long public events. It is also when salaries for most > professional categories and the minimum wage are traditionally > readjusted. > > [edit] Canada > Although celebrations by socialist, anarchist and anti-globalization > activists occur on May 1 in Canada, the government of Prime Minister > John Sparrow David Thompson declared in 1894 the first Monday in > September as Canada's official Labour Day. May Day, however, remains > an important day of trade-union and community group protest in the > province of Quebec. Celebration of the International Labour Day (or > Workers' Day, fête des travailleurs) in Montreal goes back to 1906, > organised by the Mutual Aid circle. The tradition had a renaissance at > the time of a mass strike of 1972. On the 1973 May Day, the first > contemporary demonstration was organised by the major trade union > confederations. Over 30,000 trade unionists took part in this > demonstration. > > [edit] United States > In the United States, efforts to officially switch Labor Day to the > international date of May 1 have failed. In 1921, following the > Russian Revolution of 1917, May 1 was promoted as "Americanization > Day" by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and other groups as a counter to > communists. It became an annual event, sometimes featuring large > rallies. In 1949, Americanization Day was renamed to Loyalty Day. In > 1958, Congress declared Loyalty Day a national holiday; that same > year, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaimed May 1 Law Day as > well. > > Some unions and union locals in the United States — especially in > urban areas with strong support for organized labor — have attempted > to maintain a connection with more radical labor traditions through > their own unofficial observances on May 1. Some of the largest > examples of this occurred during the Great Depression of the 1930s, > when thousands of workers marched in May Day parades in New York's > Union Square. Smaller far left groups have also tried to keep the May > Day tradition alive with more radical demonstrations in such cities as > New York and Seattle, without major union backing. > > In 2006, May 1 was chosen by mostly Latino immigrant groups in the > United States as the day for the Great American Boycott, a general > strike of illegal immigrant workers and supporters to protest H.R. > 4437, immigration reform legislation which they felt was draconian. > From April 10 to May 1 of that year, millions of immigrant families in > the U.S. called for immigrant rights, workers rights and amnesty for > undocumented workers. They were joined by socialist and other leftist > organizations on May 1.[11][12] On May 1, 2007, a mostly peaceful > demonstration in Los Angeles in support of illegal immigrant workers > ended with a widely televised assault by police officers. In March > 2008, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union announced that > dockworkers will move no cargo at any West Coast ports on May 1, 2008, > as a protest against the continuation of the Iraq War and the > diversion of resources from domestic needs.[13] For May Day 2010, > marches were being planned in many cities uniting immigrant and native > workers including New York [14][15], San Francisco,[16] Boston,[17] > Albany [18] Chicago and Los Angeles most of whom protested against the > Arizona Senate Bill 1070[19] > > [edit] Asia > [edit] Bangladesh > In Bangladesh, it is observed at 1st may and is a Government holiday. > > [edit] China > In the People's Republic of China, May 1 marked the start of one of > the country's three "Golden Weeks". Three days off work were given, > and one of the surrounding weekends was, for no more than 3 days. From > 2008, only one day would still be given, with the other two days being > rescheduled on Qingming in early April and Duanwu in early June, > respectively. > > [edit] India > The first May Day celebration in India was organised in Madras by the > Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan on May 1, 1923.[20] This was also the > first time the red flag was used in India.[21] The party leader > Singaravelu Chettiar made arrangements to celebrate May Day in two > places in 1923. One meeting was held at the beach opposite to the > Madras High Court; the other meeting was held at the Triplicane beach. > The Hindu newspaper, published from Madras reported, > > The Labour Kisan party has introduced May Day celebrations in Chennai. > Comrade Singaravelar presided over the meeting. A resolution was > passed stating that the government should declare May Day as a > holiday. The president of the party explained the non-violent > principles of the party. There was a request for financial aid. It was > emphasized that workers of the world must unite to achieve > independence.[22] > > May Day is a nationwide bank holiday in India. The holiday is tied to > labour movements for communist and socialist political parties. In > Maharashtra and Gujarat, it is officially called Maharashtra Day and > Gujarat Day respectively, since on this day in 1960 each attained > statehood, after the old Bombay State became divided on linguistic > lines. > > [edit] Japan > May Day is not officially designated by the Japanese government as a > national holiday. But because it lies between other national holidays, > it is a day off work for the vast majority of Japanese workers. Many > employers give it as a day off by, and otherwise workers take it as > "paid leave". May 1 is occurs in the "Golden Week" of holidays, > together with April 29 ("Shōwa Day", birthday of former Emperor > Hirohito), May 3 ("Constitution Memorial Day"), May 4 ("Greenery Day") > and May 5 ("Children's Day"). Workers generally take May 1 off work > not so much to join street rallies or labor union gatherings, but > rather to take a few days of vacation in an uninterrupted string. In > the Japanese corporate culture, taking weekdays off for personal > pleasure is widely frowned upon. > > Usually on this day, some of the major labor unions organize rallies > and demonstrations in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya. In 2008, the National > Confederation of Trade Unions, known also as Zenrōren held a rally in > Yoyogi Park attended by 44,000 participants, while the National Trade > Unions Council, also known as Zenrōkyō held its May Day rally at > Hibiya Park. However the largest Japanese trade union, the Japanese > Trade Union Confederation, better known as Rengō, held its May Day > rally on the following Saturday (May 3), allegedly to distance itself > from the more radical labor unions. > > [edit] Jordan > The 1st of May is known as Labor Day and is considered a public holiday. > > [edit] Malaysia > Malaysia began observing the holiday in 1972 following an announcement > by the late Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister, Ismail Abdul Rahman.[23] > > [edit] Maldives > Maldives first started observing the holiday in 2011, after a > declaration by the president, Mohamed Nasheed. He noted that this move > highlighted the government’s commitment as well as efforts of private > parties to protect and promote workers’ rights in the Maldives.[24] > > [edit] Nepal > May Day has been celebrated in Nepal since 1963.[25] The day became a > public holiday in 2007.[26] > > [edit] Singapore > In Singapore, it is known as Labor day and it is a public holiday > > [edit] Philippines > The 1st of May is known as Labor Day and is considered a public holiday. > > [edit] Europe > [edit] Eastern bloc under Communist governments > Eastern bloc countries such as the Soviet Union and most countries of > central and eastern Europe that were under the rule of Communist > governments held official May Day celebrations in every town and city, > during which party leaders greeted the crowds. Workers carried banners > with political slogans and many companies decorated their company > cars. The biggest celebration of May 1 usually occurred in the capital > of a particular communist country and usually included a military > display and the presence of the president and the secretary general of > the Party. In Poland, since 1982, party leaders led the official > parades, and in 1990, May 1 was renamed "State Holiday." In Hungary, > May Day was officially celebrated under the Communist regime, and > remains a public holiday. Traditionally, the day was marked by dancing > around designated "May trees."[27] > > [edit] Germany > > Stamp of GDR's 1. MaiIn Germany, May Day celebrations have been > organized independently by the Social Democratic Party (SPD) since the > late 19th century, and by the Communist Party since 1918. However, for > a long time the day was not made an official state holiday, even when > the Social Democrats came to power in the years after World War I, > because both the social democrats and the communists believed that the > workers should organize their own holiday without the involvement of > the (traditionally conservative) German state bureaucracy. > > In 1929, the SPD government prohibited the annual May Day workers' > demonstrations in Berlin. The Communist Party, which was the strongest > party in Berlin, called demonstrations nonetheless. By the end of the > day, 32 demonstrators, workers and bystanders had been killed by the > police, at least 80 were seriously injured. The Berlin police, under > control of the supposedly pro-labour social democratic government, had > fired a total of 11,000 rounds of live ammunition. This incident, > remembered in the German language as Blutmai ("Blood May") deepened > the split between the SPD and the Communist Party, which indirectly > helped the German right wing parties and the eventual rise of the Nazi > Party in the German parliament. > > In April 1933, the recently installed Nazi government declared May 1 > the "Day of National Work," an official state holiday, and announced > that all celebrations were to be organized by the government. Any > separate celebrations by communists, social democrats or labour unions > were banned. After the World War II, May 1 remained a state holiday in > both East and West Germany. In communist East Germany, workers were de > facto required to participate in large state-organized parades on > Mayday. Today in Germany it is simply called the "Day of Labour" ("Tag > der Arbeit"), and there are numerous demonstrations and celebrations > by independent workers' organizations. Today, Berlin witnesses yearly > demonstrations on May Day, the largest organized by labour unions, > political parties and others by the far left and Autonomen. > > Since 1987, Mayday has also become known for riots in some districts > of Berlin. After police actions against radical leftists in that > year's annual demonstrations, the Autonome scattered and sought cover > at the ongoing annual street fair in Kreuzberg. Three years prior to > the reunification of Germany, violent protests would only take place > in the former West Berlin. The protesters began tipping over police > cars, violently resisting arrest, and began building barricades after > the police withdrew due to the unforeseen resistance. Cars were set on > fire, shops plundered and burned to the ground. The police eventually > ended the riots the following night. These violent forms of protests > by the radical left, later increasingly involved participants without > political motivation. > > Annual street fairs have proven an effective way to prevent riots, and > May Day in 2005 and 2006 have been among the most peaceful known to > Berlin in nearly 25 years. In recent years, neo-Nazis and other groups > on the far right, such as the National Democratic Party of Germany, > have used the day to schedule public demonstrations, often leading to > clashes with left-wing protesters, which turned especially violent in > Leipzig in 1998 and 2005. > > May Day violence flared again in 2010. After an approved far right > demonstration was blocked by leftists, a parade by an estimated 10,000 > leftists and anarchists turned violent and required an active response > by Berlin police. [28] > > [edit] Sweden > The 1st of May has been an important part of Swedish 19th century > history. The day was made public holiday in 1938 but had been > celebrated by the Swedish Social Democratic Party since 1890. The > first May day celebration gathered more than 50.000 people in central > Stockholm. The crowd went to hear speeches held by the leading > characters of the Swedish labour movement, Hjalmar Branting (later > prime minister), August Palm and Hinke Bergegren. During World War I > the demonstrations mainly had a peace message and the Liberal Party > also joined the demonstrations. The 8-hour working day and women's > suffrage were the main messages during the troubled times after World > War I. When the Social Democratic Party won the election in 1932 they > started an era of social democratic rule that wasn't broken until the > election in 1976, when the centre-right parties won after nearly 50 > years in opposition. During the long social democratic rule the May > Day demonstrations continued and grew even stronger, in despite that > the party de facto now was demonstrating against itself. > > The May Day demonstrations are still an important part of Swedish > politics and the leaders of the social democratic and left-wing > parties use the May Day to discuss their politics. In Stockholm the > Social Democratic Party always marches towards the Norra Bantorget > ("Northern Railway Square"), which is the centre of the Swedish labour > movement, to hold speeches in front of the Trade Union Palace. > > [edit] Portugal > In Portugal, the 1st of May celebration was harshly repressed during > the fascist dictatorship regime of António de Oliveira Salazar, > although, since the Carnation Revolution in the 25th of April of 1974, > it's now celebrated by the several leftist political parties with > parades and demonstrations. It was an opportunity for the several > precarious workers groups to show their discontent for existing > working conditions, in a parade called Primeiro de Maio (1st of May), > although in the present the Worker's Day in Portugal is a holiday for > parents to spend some time with their children. The 1st of May also > represents the unionized workers that try to improve the working > conditions of emmigrant workers abroad. > > [edit] Spain > In Spain, the 1st of May celebration was established after the end of > Franco's dictatorship in 1975; before that, it had been celebrated > during the Spanish Second Republic period (1931–1939), but it was > banned afterwards by the fascist Franco regime. The first time it was > celebrated was in 1977, when the Communist Party of Spain was > legalized. Since then, it has become an official holiday that has been > traditionally used by trade unions and leftist parties for social and > labour vindications. Commonly, pacific demonstrations and parades are > made in most big cities. > > [edit] Serbia > In Serbia, the 1st of May is a day off work and a day out of school. > People celebrate all over the country, usually having barbecues > outside. In Belgrade, the capital, most people go to Avala or > Košutnjak, which is a park located in Rakovica and Čukarica. Many > manifestations are organized and held all over town. > > [edit] Greece > In Greece, May 1 celebrations are characterized by demonstrations. All > major political parties participate. On May Day 2010 there were major > protests all over Greece, most notably Athens and Thessaloniki, by > many left, anarchist and communist supporters and some violent clashes > by riot police who were sent out to contain the protesters. They > demanded economic reform, an end to job losses and wage cuts in the > face of the government's proposals of massive public spending cuts. > These cuts are to fall in line with the EU-IMF loan proposals which > demand that Greece liberalize its economy, cut its public spending and > open it up further to the EU and world markets, which many believe > will decrease living standards.[29] > > [edit] Italy > The first May day celebration in Italy took place in 1890. It started > initially as an attempt to celebrate workers' achievements in their > struggle for their rights and for better social and economic > conditions. It was abolished under the Fascist Regime and immediately > restored after the Second World War. (During the fascist period, a > "Holiday of the Italian labour" (Festa del lavoro italiano) was > celebrated on the 21st of April, the date of Natale di Roma, when > ancient Rome was allegedly founded.) Now, May Day is an important > celebration in Italy. Very popular is the Concerto del Primo Maggio > ("1 May's Concert"), organized by Italian Labour Unions in Rome in > Piazza San Giovanni. It is attended by more than 300,000 people every > year,[citation needed] and involves participation of many famous bands > and songwriters. The concert is usually broadcasted live by Rai Tre. > > [edit] Russia > May Day was celebrated illegally in Russia until the February > Revolution enabled the first legal celebration in 1917. The following > year, after the Bolshevik seizure of power, the May Day celebrations > were boycotted by Mensheviks, Left Socialist Revolutionaries and > anarchists. It became an important official holiday of the Soviet > Union, celebrated with elaborate popular parade in the centre of the > major cities. The biggest celebration was traditionally organized on > the Red Square, where the General Secretary of the CPSU and other > party and government leaders stood atop Lenin's Mausoleum and waved to > the crowds. Since 1992, May Day is officially called "The Day of > Spring and Labour", and remains a major holiday in the present-day > Russia. > > [edit] United Kingdom > In the United Kingdom in recent years, the anti-capitalist movement > has organised a number of large protests in London, Glasgow, > Edinburgh, and Doncaster. In London, these have resulted in clashes > with the police.[30] In 2000, the clashes ended with a branch of > McDonalds being smashed and a statue of Winston Churchill being given > a grass Mohawk hairstyle. The Cenotaph was also defaced with > graffiti.[31] In the last few years, demonstrations have been more > peaceful, with marches and gatherings, particularly in central > London.[32] The current Conservative-led coalition government in March > 2011 announced plans to move the May Day bank holiday to October in > order to lengthen the tourist season.[33] A London rally on May Day is > organised by the London May Day Organising Committee (LMDOC). > > [edit] Africa > [edit] Egypt > The 1st of May is known as Labor Day and is considered a public holiday. > > > Russian (Soviet era) poster for the 1st of MayMay Day occurs on May 1 > and refers to several public holidays.[1] In many countries, May Day > is synonymous with International Workers' Day, or Labour Day, a day of > political demonstrations and celebrations organised by communists, > anarchists, socialists, and activist groups. May Day is also a > traditional holiday in many cultures. > International Workers' Day > > Approximately 700,000 people at a May Day concert in Rome > International Workers' Day > May Day can refer to various labour celebrations conducted on May 1 > that commemorate the fight for the eight hour day. May Day in this > regard is called International Workers' Day, or Labour Day. The idea > for a "workers holiday" began in Australia in 1856; after a > Stonemason's victory, April 22nd was "Eight-Hour Day", a public > holiday.[3][4] With the idea having spread around the world, the > choice of May 1st became a commemoration by the Second International > for the people involved in the 1886 Haymarket affair.[5] > > The Haymarket affair occurred during the course of a three-day general > strike in Chicago, Illinois, United States that involved common > laborers, artisans, merchants, and immigrants.[6] Following an > incident in which police opened fire and killed four strikers at the > McCormick Harvesting Machine Co. plant, a rally was called for the > following day at Haymarket Square. Towards the end of the rally, as > police moved in to disperse the event and opened fire on the unarmed > crowd on the plea that an unknown assailant threw a bomb into the > crowd of police. The bomb and resulting police riot left at least a > dozen people dead, including one policeman.[7] A sensational show > trial ensued in which eight defendants were openly tried for their > political beliefs, and not necessarily for any involvement in the > bombing.[8] The trial led to the eventual public hanging of four > anarchists.[9] The Haymarket incident was a source of outrage from > people around the globe. In the following years, memory of the > "Haymarket martyrs" was remembered with various May Day job actions > and demonstrations.[10] > > May Day has become an international celebration of the social and > economic achievements of the labour movement. Although the > commemoration of May Day as International Workers' Day received its > inspiration from the United States, the U.S. Congress designated May 1 > as Loyalty Day in 1958 due to the day's perceived appropriation by the > Soviet Union.[11] Alternatively, Labor Day traditionally occurs on the > first Monday in September in the United States. People often use May > Day as a day for political protest, such as the million people who > demonstrated against far-right candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen in France, > or as a day for protest against government actions, such as rallies in > support of undocumented workers across the United States.[12][13][14] > > [edit] Traditional May Day celebrations > May Day is related to the Celtic festival of Beltane and the Germanic > festival of Walpurgis Night. May Day falls exactly half of a year from > November 1, another cross-quarter day which is also associated with > various northern European pagan and neopagan festivals such as > Samhain. May Day marks the end of the unfarmable winter half of the > year in the Northern hemisphere, and it has traditionally been an > occasion for popular and often raucous celebrations. > > As Europe became Christianized the pagan holidays lost their religious > character and either changed into popular secular celebrations, as > with May Day, or were merged with or replaced by new Christian > holidays as with Christmas, Easter, Pentecost and All Saint's Day. In > the twentieth century, many neopagans began reconstructing the old > traditions and celebrating May Day as a pagan religious festival > again. > > [edit] Origins > The earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times, > with the festival of Flora, the Roman Goddess of flowers, and the > Walpurgis Night celebrations of the Germanic countries. It is also > associated with the Gaelic Beltane. Many pagan celebrations were > abandoned or Christianized during the process of conversion in Europe. > A more secular version of May Day continues to be observed in Europe > and America. In this form, May Day may be best known for its tradition > of dancing the Maypole and crowning of the Queen of the May. Various > Neopagan groups celebrate reconstructed (to varying degrees) versions > of these customs on May the 1st. The day was a traditional summer > holiday in many pre-Christian European pagan cultures. While February > 1 was the first day of Spring, May 1 was the first day of summer; > hence, the summer solstice on June 25 (now June 21) was Midsummer. In > the Roman Catholic tradition, May is observed as Mary's month, and in > these circles May Day is usually a celebration of the Blessed Virgin > Mary. In this connection, in works of art, school skits, and so forth, > Mary's head will often be adorned with flowers in a May crowning. > Fading in popularity since the late 20th century is the giving of "May > baskets," small baskets of sweets and/or flowers, usually left > anonymously on neighbours' doorsteps.[15] > > [edit] Asia > [edit] India > May 1 is celebrated as Maharashtra Day in Maharashtra[16] and Gujarat > Day in Gujarat,[17] two states on the western coast of India. Both > attained statehood on the 1st of May 1960 when the state of Bombay was > divided in two under the Saurashtra re-organization act. The division > was made on the basis of different languages; Marathi and Gujarati. > Maharashtra retained the old capital Bombay, which was later renamed > Mumbai. The rest of India celebrates May Day as International Workers' > Day > > [edit] China > 1 May is celebrated as Labour Day in China. It is a public holiday. > > [edit] Bangladesh > Bangladesh celebrates MayDay as International Workers' Day. It is a > public holiday. > > [edit] Europe > [edit] England > Roodmas was a Christian Mass celebrated in England at midnight on May 1. > > > Morris dancing on May Day in Oxford, England 2004.Traditional English > May Day rites and celebrations include Morris dancing, crowning a May > Queen and celebrations involving a Maypole. Much of this tradition > derive from the pagan Anglo-Saxon customs held during > "Þrimilci-mōnaþ"[18] (the Old English name for the month of May > meaning Month of Three Milkings). > > May Day has been a traditional day of festivities throughout the > centuries. With Christianity came agricultural feasts such as Plough > Sunday (the first Sunday in January), Rogationtide, Harvest Festival > and May Day. It is most associated with towns and villages celebrating > springtime fertility and revelry with village fetes and community > gatherings. Since May 1st is the Feast of St Philip & St James, they > became the patron saints of workers. Seeding has been completed by > this date and it was convenient to give farm labourers a day off. > Perhaps the most significant of the traditions is the Maypole, around > which traditional dancers circle with ribbons. > > The May Day bank holiday, on the first Monday in May, was > traditionally the only one to affect the state school calendar, > although new arrangements in some areas to even out the length of > school terms mean that the Good Friday and Easter Monday bank > holidays, which vary from year to year, may also fall during term > time. The May Day bank holiday was created in 1978. In February 2011 > the UK Parliament was reported to be considering scrapping the bank > holiday associated with May Day, replacing it with a bank holiday in > October, possibly co-inciding with Trafalgar Day (celebrated on 21 > October), to create a "United Kingdom Day",.[19] > > May day was abolished and its celebration banned by puritan > parliaments during the Interregnum, but reinstated with the > restoration of Charles II in 1660.[20] 1 May 1707 was the day the Act > of Union came into effect, joining England and Scotland to form the > Kingdom of Great Britain. > > In Oxford, it is traditional for May Morning revellers to gather below > the Great Tower of Magdalen College at 6.00am to listen to the college > choir sing traditional madrigals as a conclusion to the previous > night's celebrations. It is then thought to be traditional for some > people to jump off Magdalen Bridge into the River Cherwell. However > this has actually only been fashionable since the 1970s. In recent > years the bridge has been closed on 1 May to prevent people from > jumping, as the water under the bridge is only 2 feet (61 cm) deep and > jumping from the bridge has resulted in serious injury in the past yet > there are still people who insist on climbing the barriers and leaping > into the water, causing injury.[21] > > In Durham, students of the University of Durham gather on Prebend's > Bridge to see the sunrise and enjoy festivities, folk music, dancing, > madrigal singing and a barbecue breakfast. This is an emerging Durham > tradition, with patchy observance since 2002. > > Whitstable, Kent hosts a good example of more traditional May Day > festivities, where the Jack in the Green festival was revived in 1976 > and continues to lead an annual procession of morris dancers through > the town on the May Bank Holiday. A separate revival occurred in > Hastings in 1983 and has become a major event in the town calendar. A > traditional Sweeps Festival is performed over the May bank holiday in > Rochester, Kent where the Jack In the Green is woken at dawn on the > 1st of May by Morris dancers. > > The Maydayrun involves thousands of motorbikes taking a 55-mile (89 > km) trip from London(Locksbottom) to the Hastings seafront, East > Sussex. The event has been taking place for almost 30 years now and > has grown in interest from around the country, both commercially and > publicly. The event is not officially organised; the police only > manage the traffic, while volunteers manage the parking. > > Padstow in Cornwall holds its annual 'Obby-Oss' day of festivities. > This is believed to be one of the oldest fertility rites in the UK; > revellers dance with the Oss through the streets of the town and even > through the private gardens of the citizens, accompanied by accordion > players and followers dressed in white with red or blue sashes who > sing the traditional 'May Day' song. The whole town is decorated with > springtime greenery, and every year thousands of onlookers attend. > Prior to the 19th century distinctive May day celebrations were > widespread throughout West Cornwall , and are being revived in St. > Ives and Penzance. > > Kingsand, Cawsand and Millbrook in Cornwall celebrate Flower Boat > Ritual on the May Day bank holiday. A model of the ship The Black > Prince is covered in flowers and is taken in procession from the Quay > at Millbrook to the beach at Cawsand where it is cast adrift. The > houses in the villages are decorated with flowers and people > traditionally wear red and white clothes. There are further > celebrations in Cawsand Square with Morris dancing and May pole > dancing. > > [edit] Scotland > In St Andrews, some of the students gather on the beach late on April > 30 and run into the North Sea at sunrise on May Day, occasionally > naked. This is accompanied by torchlit processions and much elated > celebration. > > Both Edinburgh and Glasgow organize Mayday festivals and rallies. In > Edinburgh, the Beltane Fire Festival is held on the evening of May eve > and into the early hours of May Day on the city's Calton Hill. > > 1 May 1707 was the day the Act of Union came into effect, joining > England and Scotland to form the Kingdom of Great Britain. > > [edit] Ireland > A traditional May Day has been celebrated in Ireland since pagan times > as the feast of Bealtaine and in latter times as Mary's day, bonfires > are lit to mark the coming of summer and to banish the long nights of > winter. (Officially Irish Mayday bank holiday is now on the first > Monday in May). In modern times may day is associated with > anti-government rallies which are held every year on this date. Old > traditions such as bonfires are no longer held. > > [edit] Portugal > Labor Day in Portugal. > > In Portugal, only from May 1974 (the year of the revolution of April > 25) that is turned to freely celebrate May Day and it became a > holiday. During the dictatorship of the Estado Novo, the commemoration > of this day was broken up by police. The World Day of Workers is > celebrated throughout the country, especially with demonstrations, > rallies and celebrations of nature that claims promoted by the > Inter-union federation CGT (General Confederation of Portuguese > Workers - Inter) in the main cities of Lisbon and Porto, as well as by > trade union confederation UGT (General Workers' Union). In the > Algarve, it is customary to make population and picnics are organized > some parties in the region. Importantly, since the government of José > Sócrates has approved a new law of trade opening on Sundays, Portugal > WORKERS are again forced to work day May 1, Sundays and holidays, > including Easter Sunday. > > [edit] France > On May 1st, 1561, King Charles IX of France received a lily of the > valley as a lucky charm. He decided to offer a lily of the valley each > year to the ladies of the court. At the beginning of the 20th century, > it became custom on the 1st of May, to give a sprig of lily of the > valley, a symbol of springtime. The government permits individuals and > workers' organisations to sell them free of taxation. It is also > traditional for the lady receiving the spray of lily of valley to give > a kiss in return. Now, people may present loved ones with bunches of > lily of the valley or dog rose flowers [22] > > [edit] Germany > > A stamp from East Germany celebrating the 100-year anniversary of > International Workers Day on 1 May 1990.In rural regions of Germany, > especially the Harz Mountains, Walpurgisnacht celebrations of Pagan > origin are traditionally held on the night before May Day, including > bonfires and the wrapping of maypoles, and young people use this > opportunity to party, while the day itself is used by many families to > get some fresh air. Motto: "Tanz in den Mai!" ("Dance into May!"). In > the Rhineland, a region in the western part of Germany, May 1 is also > celebrated by the delivery of a tree covered in streamers to the house > of a girl the night before. The tree is typically from a love > interest, though a tree wrapped only in white streamers is a sign of > dislike. Females usually place roses or rice in form of a heart at the > house of their beloved one. It is common to stick the heart to a > window or place it in front of the doormat. On leap years, it is the > responsibility of the females to place the maypole, though the males > are still allowed and encouraged to do so. All the action is usually > done secretly and it is in everyone's choice to give a hint on their > identity or stay anonymously. > > [edit] Finland > Celebrations among the younger generations take place on May Day eve, > see Walpurgis Night in Finland), most prominent being the afternoon > 'crowning' of statues in towns around the country with a student cap. > > May Day is known as Vappu, from the Swedish term. This is a public > holiday that is the only carnival-style street festivity in the > country. People, particularly students young and old, party outside on > this day arranging picnics and wearing their caps or other decorative > clothing . However, all political organizations, including right and > left wing parties, also arrange marches, speeches and such public > events. > > [edit] Sweden > Mayday is denoted "First of May" ("Första maj" in Swedish) and has > been a public holiday in Sweden since 1939. The main events on Mayday > is political demonstrations carried out by the working class > organisations and political parties historically associated with the > working class movement. > > [edit] Pacific > In Hawaii, May Day is also known as Lei Day, and is normally set aside > as a day to celebrate island culture in general and native Hawaiian > culture in particular. While it was invented by a poet and a local > newspaper columnist in the 1920s, it has since been adopted by state > and local government as well as by the residents, and has taken on a > sense of general spring celebration there. The first Lei Day was > proposed in 1927 in Honolulu. Leonard "Red" and Ruth Hawk composed > "May Day is Lei Day in Hawai'i," the traditional holiday song. > Originally it was a contemporary fox trot, later rearranged as the > Hawaiian hula song performed today. > > [edit] Americas > > May Day festivities at National Park Seminary in Maryland, 1907.May > Day was also celebrated by some early European settlers of the > American continent. In some parts of the United States, May Baskets > are made. These baskets are small and usually filled with flowers or > treats and left at someone's doorstep. The basket giver would ring the > bell and run away. The person receiving the basket would try to catch > the fleeing giver. If they caught the person, a kiss was to be > exchanged.[citation needed] > > Modern May Day ceremonies in the U.S. vary greatly from region to > region and many unite both the holiday's "Green Root" (pagan) and "Red > Root" (labor) traditions.[23] Among the largest is the May Day Parade > and Pageant created by In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask > Theatre, an event that has happened every year since 1975 in > Minneapolis and now attracts some 35,000 people. > > May 1 also is recognized in the U.S. as Law Day.[24] > > മin this year international labour organisation is giving message that > protect workers from safety, give health education knowledge skill > talent abilities and personality development. > complete elimination of child labour. > with this view I thank all of you who are working hard in various > spheres of life. > thanking you > with warm regards > NagarajH > > To unsubscribe send a message to > [email protected] > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please > visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] with the subject unsubscribe. 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