In a few days, we will have a long may day holiday. Do you know the origin of May Day? What is the custom and history of May Day? Today Xiaobian will show you something.
The origin and customs of May Day
May 1 International Labor Day originated from the workers' strike in Chicago in 1886. As early as 1866, the first international Geneva conference put forward the slogan of eight hour working system. Then on May 1, 1886, taking Chicago as the center, a large-scale strike and demonstration was held in the United States with about 350000 people. The demonstrators demanded to improve the working conditions and implement the eight hour working system. On May 3, 1886, the Chicago government sent out police to suppress, shooting and killing two people. The situation expanded. On May 4, the strikers held a protest in the hay market square. Because unidentified people threw bombs at the police, the police finally shot, killing four workers and seven police successively, which was called "hay market riot" or "hay market Massacre". In the subsequent sentence, eight anarchists were charged with murder, four were hanged and one committed suicide in prison.
Monument to 'hay market riots'
To commemorate the great workers' movement and the subsequent verdict of the protest, workers' protests were held around the world. These activities became the forerunner of international may day.
In order to commemorate the workers' movement, in July 1889, at the second international founding conference organized by Engels, it was announced that the first day of May every year would be international labor day.
On July 14, 1889, the socialist congress convened by Marxists from all over the world opened in Paris, France. At the conference, the participants unanimously agreed to make May 1 a common festival for the international proletariat. This resolution has received a positive response from workers all over the world.
On May 1, 1890, the working class of European and American countries took the lead in taking to the streets, holding grand demonstrations and rallies to fight for their legitimate rights and interests. Since then, the working people from all over the world have gathered and marched to celebrate every day.