Labour Day celebrated on 1st of May in so many countries was established by the Second International in 1889 to commemorate the massive strike of working class in Chicago, which took place 1886.
Click here to learn more about the genesis of the International Workers' Day.
In Poland, my home country, 1st of May became a public holiday in 1950. In the previous regime that day was loudly celebrated by concerts and getting prizes or promotions at work (among other things). But the most important was the march (for some obligatory) including the leaders of the state, students and of course people of all working classes. Naturally there were people against it (nowadays we would call them haters), many of which associated celebrations of 1st of May with communism.
Although it is a clearly political holiday, a lot of people focus more on the spring beginning than celebrating the working rights. Nowadays many see it as a great occasion to spend a long weekend (3rd of May is a Constitution Day in Poland, which is also free from work) with friends and family. This time of the year is already warm enough to go out, therefore whole families are leaving cities and go for short holidays into the nature.
Thinking about how the way of celebrating Labour Day shifted in my country, makes me think, that a nation has to be forced or triggered by specific reason to get united.
How are you spending 1st of May?