The first day of May is celebrated as May Day in over 80 countries. May Day is also known as International Worker’s Day, Labour Day or Worker’s Day in other countries. Different countries celebrate May Day on different days but it is mostly celebrated on first day of May. Like in UK and Ireland they celebrate it on the first Monday of May whereas in US they celebrate it on the first Monday of September.Usually we have holiday on May Day and celebrate it, but most of us don’t know the reason why we celebrate May Day and have holiday on that day. It is basically a commemoration of the achievement of the labour movement. Way back in 1886, 1st May was chosen as International Worker’s day to commemorate Haymarket affair in Chicago.
On 1st May 1884, The American Federation of Organized Trades and Labour Unions demanded an eight-hour workday, to come into effect from 1st May 1886. This demand by them resulted in general strike and the Haymarket riot in 1886. Their hard work paid off and ultimately eight-hour workday was officially sanctioned.
In India, May Day was celebrated for the first time in 1923. It was organized by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan in Madras (now Chennai). At present May Day is celebrated in many states in India including Assam, Bihar, Goa, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Manipur, Tamil Nadu, Tripura and West Bengal. It is celebrated as Antarrashtriya Shramik Diwas in India. It is also known as “Kamgar Din" in Hindi, "Karmikara Dinacharane" in Kannada, "Kamgar Divas" in Marathi, "Uzhaipalar dhinam" in Tamil, and "Thozhilaali Dinam" in Malayalam.
So with this, I hope you have come to know how the concept of May Day originated and it’s presence in India nowadays.
Saquib Akhter, signing off for the day. Thank You.
