International Workers’ Day is celebrated in over 160 countries. However, while most of Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas have a holiday on 1 May, the United States is one of the few countries that doesn’t celebrate this holiday to recognize the workers.

The first such celebration was held on 5 September 1882 in New York City. Within seven years it became an international holiday, but an international federation of socialists and trade unions in Europe chose 1 May.

While there were efforts in the past to have the US holiday coincide with International Workers’ Day, it has remained an outlier along with Australia, Canada, Japan and New Zeland. In the case of the US, the date for Labor Day was set as the first Monday of September in 1894 by lawmakers in an attempt to appease workers after troops were sent to quash a strike by Pullman workers in Chicago which shut down rail traffic from across the nation. During this federal intervention, more than seventy people were killed, and thousands were injured. 

Moving the holiday to 1 May to coincide with the international celebration became a toxic idea during the Cold War and the holiday’s association with Communism. So thus, the United States has continued celebrating its holiday at what has also become the unofficial end of summer. 

Another strike, almost a decade earlier and also in Chicago, that started on 1 May 1886 and where repressive actions by law enforcement were also implemented was the impetus of International Workers’ Day. The Haymarket Massacre occurred on the fourth day of the strike.

After police had shot at protestors trying to break through the police line guarding the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, anarchists called for a rally at the Haymarket Square the following day. Details on exactly how many people attended are unclear, but it too ended in violence after a bomb was thrown at police and they responded with gunfire. While the numbers of protestors killed and injured are unknown, only two deaths were confirmed, six police officers died and 60 were injured.

hile the concept of having a holiday to celebrate workers was being contemplated in other countries, the events that took place in Chicago galvanized the efforts. An international federation of socialists and trade unions in Europe voted in 1889 at the first meeting of the Second International in Paris to organize a day of demonstrations the following year on the anniversary of the Chicago protests.

May Day traces its roots back to the late 19th century when labour movements in the United States and Europe advocated for better working conditions, including an eight-hour workday. The catalyst for May Day was the Haymarket affair in Chicago in 1886, where workers protested for an eight-hour workday, leading to a confrontation with police and resulting in several deaths. In 1889, the International Socialist Conference declared May 1st as International Workers' Day to honour the Haymarket martyrs and promote workers' rights global

While May Day has its origins in the United States, it is celebrated in countries across the world, albeit with varying degrees of significance. In many nations, it is a public holiday marked by demonstrations, rallies, and marches organised by labour unions and worker associations. These events serve as a platform to raise awareness about labour rights issues and advocate for fair wages, safe working conditions, and social justice.


The red flag has become synonymous with May Day and the labour movement. Its origins can be traced back to the Paris Commune of 1871 when red flags were used as a symbol of defiance by the working class. Since then, the red flag has been adopted by socialist and labour movements worldwide as a symbol of solidarity, struggle, and the quest for workers' rights.


While the core theme of May Day remains the same – honouring workers' contributions – how it is celebrated vary across different cultures and countries. In some places, it is a day of peaceful demonstrations and parades, while in others, it is marked by festive gatherings, picnics, and family outings. Traditional customs such as maypole dancing, flower crowning, and community feasts are also associated with May Day in certain regions.


Despite significant progress in labour rights over the years, challenges persist for workers globally. Issues such as precarious employment, income inequality, discrimination, and exploitation remain prevalent in many parts of the world. Therefore, May Day serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for social and economic justice and the need to uphold and expand upon the gains made by past generations of workers.

The year after, its was officially recognized as an annual event. Helpfully, the date also coincided with the traditional May Day celebrations that take place across Europe.