May Day: International Workers Day 2024
Yippie!! It’s May Day again, and a lot of excitement and enthusiasm is filling the air, as the new month brings along a new season, coupled with a commendable burst of fresh air to look forward to even amidst the gloom in the world right now.
May Day, which is always celebrated on the 1st day of the month of May in every new year, is a celebration that is acknowledged worldwide. The celebration is vastly held in high regard due to its peculiarity that dates back to ancient times. May is officially the start of spring in most countries across the world, and what this means is that there would be lots of sunflowers and dangling daisies in the air, festivities, Maypoles, dancing, and lots more.
The most fascinating thing about the May 1st celebration is also the fact that May Day was chosen as the date to celebrate international workers’ day/ Labour day: A celebration dedicated to showing reverence and pledge of continual solidarity to millions of workers across the world. Labour day is usually declared and recognized as a national holiday and a rest day for workers.
This year, in recognition of Labour day, Google is also celebrating the occasion with a Doodle feature. The Doodle -with a simple click- displays the tools and work materials of several work professionals and trades: largely ranging but not limited to; books, shovels, mixing bowls, and hats.
Notwithstanding all of this, there’s a fascinating history behind the celebration of Labour that you should know about. Without further ado, let’s take a look at where these celebrations originated from!
What is May Day?
Dating back to the time of the Romans, the spring festival is known to bring bounty harvest, agriculture, fertility, merry sunshine, flowers, and so much more, is renowned to have been celebrated in the Northern Hemisphere. Back then, a pretty young girl was crowned May Queen, and some traditions promoted the idea of making a floral wreath, which was believed to magically rebuke demons and scare them off.
According to historyextra, The celebration emerged from the festival Floralia, which was a celebration of fertility and nature that took place around early May and was dedicated to the goddess Flora.
However, in present times, May day is often celebrated outdoors by admiring the beautiful view of nature and the warm scent of early spring, while acknowledging the magic Mother Earth holds in her bowels as she continues the unending circle of life and death.
While all of this may be entertaining for children and young adults, May Day also holds another relevance to working individuals around the world.
What is Labour Day?
International workers’ day also known as Labour Day in some countries is a celebration of laborers and working-class individuals across the world.
The celebration dates back to the times when labor and work conditions were harsh, hostile, and most unbearable.
When most workers could not contain such unfair labor, the 4th of May 1886 witnessed a remarkable feat in history where over 2,000 Union workers assembled together in Chicago on strike, demonstrating against dangerous and unhealthy working conditions that they were being subjected to. This movement quickly spread to other cities, and many lives were lost; protesters and policemen killed, and some of these protesters sentenced to life imprisonment.
In the late 19th century, as labor movements and trade awareness grew, a pan socialist organization of Communist and socialists parties came together to decide that the Haymarket massacre of May 4th, 1886 will be commemorated on the first of May to remember those who lost their lives on the front line of the fight for justice.
Even as Worker’s day is celebrated in most countries on May 1st, some countries like the United States and Canada celebrate theirs on other days that are most significant to them.
What Other Exciting Things Are There About May Day?
As different things are happening in different countries at the same time, some of them not necessarily helpful to the labour market, it can be challenging to find hope and purpose. However, the start of a new season can bring renewed energy and optimism. May is here, and it promises to be a month filled with exciting prospects, including new releases on our beloved streaming platform, Netflix.
With the world still grappling with the increase in job loss and economic issues, many people have turned to entertainment to find solace and comfort. Netflix has been at the forefront of this trend, offering viewers a diverse range of shows and movies to choose from.
Therefore, we’ve compiled a list of new releases scheduled to drop on Netflix in May. From our favorite actors to anticipated sequels and new series, this list has it all. So, grab your popcorn, sit back, and check out what Netflix has in store for you this month!
Some of the highlights on this month’s list include
- The Little Mermaid
- Kandahar
- The much-anticipated zombie heist movie, “Army of the Dead,” featuring Dave Bautista
- MobKing
- The psychological thriller “The Woman in the Window,” starring Amy Adams.
- Selena: The Series
- Lucifer
- Master of None
- Robots
Happy Worker’s Day!
Regardless of your work experience or tenure, whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting your career journey, Afrolady wants to wish you a very happy Worker’s Day!
Today, we celebrate the efforts and contributions of workers all around the world. Whether you work in an office, a factory, or remotely, your hard work and dedication are appreciated and valued.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve been in the workforce for over a decade, tirelessly working for the past fifteen years, or simply surviving your first day on the job. Worker’s Day is a day to recognize and honor your efforts, your struggles, and your successes.
So, take a moment to reflect on your work journey and celebrate all that you’ve accomplished. You’ve overcome challenges, learned new skills, and made a difference in your workplace and your community. Your contributions are what keep the world moving forward, and for that, we say, “Thank you!”
Once again, Happy Worker’s Day to you from Afrolady!
All images are sourced from pixabay
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