The Belarusian Institute Of System Analysis And Informational Support Of Scientific And Technical Sphere

1 May — Labour Day
Document address: http://www.belisa.org.by/en/year-of-peace-and-creation/bb9c76068b54cbf9.html

29.04.2023

On 1 May, our country will celebrate Labour Day, which is a nationwide holiday. It was established by Presidential Decree No 157 of 26 March 1998 and has more than a century of history.

On 1 May 1886, Chicago workers organised a strike and a demonstration demanding an 8-hour working day. This ended in a bloody clash with the police. The police opened fire in response to shots fired from the crowd, leading to mass casualties among the demonstrators. Three years later the Paris Congress of the Second International named 1 May as the day of solidarity of workers all over the world and proposed that it be marked every year with demonstrations with social demands.

For a long time May 1st has been celebrated as International Workers' Day. May Day became a symbol of revolution, of irreconcilable class struggle, had political overtones and was celebrated with demonstrations decorated with portraits of political figures, foremost workers, slogans, appeals, posters and diagrams of achievements in a particular branch of the economy, science and culture. But gradually this context was being lost.

Today it is a holiday celebrated in many countries around the world. For some countries the tradition of gathering people under the banner of trade unions still exists, but in most countries it is not a political holiday, but Labour Day — a bright springtime celebration with popular festivities, popular artists, fairs, peaceful parades and lots of fun activities.