Why is Labor Day celebrated

Labor Day is celebrated in almost all countries of the world, the vast majority on May 1. This makes Labor Day one of the most successful holidays in terms of the number of people it affects. But why was Labor Day created at all?

Labor Day commemorates the events that began on May 1, 1886 in the American city of Chicago. During a mass demonstration, working citizens there sought to introduce eight-hour working hours. Demonstrations continued, and on May 3 and 4, there were bloody clashes with police, in which several people died. Two years later, the demonstration was repeated and the following year, i.e. in 1889, the second International Labor Day was declared by the Second International. This holiday quickly spread to various countries around the world.

The holiday was first celebrated in the Czech lands in the time of Austria-Hungary in 1890. Later in the time of socialism it played a very important role. Workers, and especially students or various interest groups, had to go to the parade voluntarily, but attendance was often checked. The holiday in the Czech Republic persisted even after the Velvet Revolution, but it lost its significance among the general public, and its importance prevailed more among the supporters of the Communist Party.

Labor Day is not celebrated in about two dozen countries. These countries include, for example, South Korea, Mongolia, Thailand, Saudi Arabia or, for example, the Netherlands and Denmark.