May 1st is celebrated in many countries as Labour Day, a day dedicated to commemorating the workers' struggles for workers' rights, in particular for the achievement of the eight-hour working day.
Labor Day: Origins in the United States
The roots of the holiday date back to the 1th century United States. On May 1886, XNUMX, labor unions organized a general strike to ask for the reduction of working hours to eight hours. A Chicago, during a demonstration, violent clashes broke out known as the Haymarket Riot, culminating on May 4 with the explosion of a bomb that caused the death of seven police officers and several protesters. Eight activists were convicted, and four of them were executed. These events had a strong international impact and led to the choice of May 1st as the symbolic day of workers' struggles.
In 1889, the Congress of the Second International in Paris proclaimed May 1st as an international day of action for workers' rights. The date was adopted in many European countries and around the world.
May 1st in Italy
In Italy, the first celebration of May Day took place in 1890. During the fascist regime, the holiday was abolished and replaced with the “Festa del lavoro italiano” on April 21, coinciding with the birth of Rome. After the fall of fascism, in 1945, the workers' holiday was reinstated on May 1 and officially recognized as a holiday. The most anticipated event is the concert held in Rome with many artists performing.
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