International Workers' Day
May 1, The day for workers which is known as the International Worker's Day and often referred to as May Day. It is an official public holiday in many countries to honour the contributions of labourers or working class people. The theme of May Day 2019 is 'Uniting Workers for Social and Economic Advancement'.
About May Day
1 May was chosen to be International Workers' Day to commemorate the 1886 Haymarket affair in Chicago. In that year beginning on 1 May, there was a general strike for the eight hour work day which arose as the result of the labour class courage to unite and raise their voice against the unfair treatment and demanded paid leaves, proper wages and breaks for the workforce. On May 4, they took out a rally for an eight-hour workday, a bombing attack was mounted on them by some unknown forces. Police firing and loss of 11 lives were reported at the rally that ended in riot.
Three years later, a French socialist party chose May 1 as the International Workers' Day to honour the labour movement and commemorate the Haymarket Massacre.
May Day in India
In India, the holiday is also celebrated as Antarashtriya Shramik Diwas, Uzhaipalar Dinam or Kamgar Din. The first celebration of May Day in India was organised in Madras (now Chennai) by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan on May 1, 1923. This was also the time when the Red Flag which symbolises Labour Day was first used in India.
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