International Labour Day, also referred to as May Day or International Workers’ Day, is an annual celebration that marks the struggles and achievements of workers and the labour movement around the world. It’s observed around the globe on 1 May, and is a public holiday in most countries.
The holiday has its foundations in North America. In May 1886, a violent crackdown on protesters in Chicago - known as the Haymarket Affair - saw numerous deaths and injuries after a peaceful rally in support of workers striking for an eight-hour workday.
