…How it Started
International Workers’ Day, also known as Labour Day in most countries and often referred to as May Day, is a celebration of labourers and the working classes i.e every person working, no matter the nature of the job. The day is promoted by the international labour movement and occurs every year on May Day (1st of May).
As the day is here, here are some necessary details that will help you in understanding the importance of this special day.
Mystery Behind Worker’s Day
In 1889, the Marxist International Socialist Congress adopted a resolution for a great international demonstration in which they demanded that the workers should not be made to work for more than 8 hours a day.
After this, it became an annual event and May 1 was celebrated as Labour Day.
Earlier, the labours were exploited as they were made to work for 15 hours a day and it was in the year 1886 that the workers came together and started raising their voice for their right.
In the protest, they asked for working 8 hours a day and to be provided with paid leaves.
In India, Labour Day was observed in the year 1923, in Chennai. This day was observed by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan.
On this day, the communist leader Malayapuram Singaravelu Chettiar also asked the government that this day should be considered as a national holiday to symbolise the efforts and work of the workers.
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This day is also known as Kamgar Divas, Kamgar Din and Antrarashtriya Shramik Divas in India.
In the United States and Canada, a September holiday called Labour Day, was first proposed in the 1880s. Several years later, in 1887, North America officially established Labor Day.
May 1st, on the other hand, was chosen for International Workers’ Day to commemorate the Haymarket affair of May 4th 1886 in Chicago, when an unidentified person threw a bomb at the police, who responded by opening fire on the workers, killing four of them.
Today, International Workers’ day is celebrated on every continent.
September holiday called Labour Day, was first proposed in the 1880s. Several years later, in 1887, North America officially established Labor Day.
May 1st, on the other hand, was chosen for International Workers’ Day to commemorate the Haymarket affair of May 4th 1886 in Chicago, when an unidentified person threw a bomb at the police, who responded by opening fire on the workers, killing four of them. Today, International Workers’ day is celebrated on every continent.
How to Celebrate International Workers’ Day
Normally, on this day, protest, strikes and marches take place. However, this time the celebration will look a little different owing to the current situation of the coronavirus induced pandemic.
Asides the pandemic, this day was always meant to celebrate the work of the everyday man, so if you’ve been feeling a bit underappreciated recently, today and every other May Day is the day for you to do what you feel like doing and treat yourself!
Take the day off (if it’s not a day off work in your country of residence) and go do something you want to do for a change.
Has it been ages since you visited the mountains? Pack a lunch and spend the day enjoying nature and the view from the peak you decide to conquer. Has your back been causing you increasing discomfort recently? Time to make an appointment with a good masseuse!
And if it’s been forever since you took the time to make yourself a decent meal, today is the perfect day to buy all of the ingredients you need and spend as much time as you need cooking something delicious and nutritious.
Culled from dayoftheyear.com & Jagran English
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