May Day

Last week on the first of the month, a holiday occurred; one which many don’t know much about: May Day.

What is May Day?

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May Day is a holiday with European origins meant to mark the beginning of summer or spring, depending where, and mostly celebrates the nicer weather. Festivities can also begin the night before, which is known as “May Eve”.

As time went on, this holiday also became a means of celebrating historic struggles and gains of workers across the globe that were a part of labor movements. The day is dedicated to the hard workers spending 8 hours or more at shifts.

Who celebrates it?

In the context of celebrating May Day for spring and summer, cultures of Celtic and Gaelic heritage mainly celebrate it for this switching of seasons.

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In contrast, parts of the world such as the United States celebrate May Day as International Workers’ Day to give back to those working 8 hour shifts.

How Can I Celebrate it?

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If you’re looking to celebrate the warmer weather, ideas of celebration include making may baskets, maypole dancing, flower decorations, flower crowns, and more! The more bright and colorful, the better.

For those using the day to bring awareness to the worker struggle, participating in strikes, protests, and spreading awareness through social media are all great ways to get involved and give back.

So whether you choose to spend the day dancing round a maypole or marching in a protest, make sure the holiday has meaning to you. After all, what’s the point of a holiday without it?