Should Labour Day be celebrated more?

Origins of Labour Day

Labour Day is celebrated around the world for the social and economical achievements of labour workers. It is also a public holiday in many countries including the UK.

In most countries, Labour Day, also known as May Day and International Workers' Day, is a public holiday on the 1st May or the first Monday of May.

Labour Day has its origin from the Eight Day Movement that happened during the Industrial Revolution where people were being overworked and child labour was exploited. It started when Robert Owen a social reformer aimed to change the workers' condition by lowering the working hours to eight.

The Eight Hours Day Movement

The implementation of the Eight Hours Day Movement or Short Time Movement was what brought about Labour Day. The idea behind the slogan was to have eight hour for work, eight hours for recreation and eight hours for rest.

People worked under uncontrolled, unsafe and unregulated conditions; child labour was also at its peak. A normal working day would have ranged form 10 to 16 hours a day for 6 six days a week. The initial demand made from Robert Owen for the eight hours a day was raised in 1817. But only in 1847 were women and children only granted a ten hours working day. After a revolution in France, French people were allowed a twelve hours working day. After some time in 1866, the International Workingmen's Association raised the demand for the eight hours at a Geneva convention where it was approved and legalised in Europe.

The Eight Hours Movement formed a major part in the history of Labour Day in many countries.

How is Labour Day celebrated?

In the past, for May Day, which is also on the 1st May, was celebrated in many cultures with traditional festivals. However, since the introduction of Labour Day, some countries have merged their festivals with the celebration of Labour Day.

In England, May Day had been celebrated a lot. There is a Christian mass at midnight of the 1st May, in Oxford there is a tradition for people to gather below Magdalen College tower to listen to the college's choir for what is called May Morning. Also on this day, there is a Mayday run which involves a motorbike 'run' from London to Hastings that has been going on for 30 years.

Labour day around the world

New Zealand

Building trades in Auckland achieved the eight-hour day on 1 September 1857 but for many years the eight-hour day was confined to craft tradesmen and unionized workers. Labour Day, which commemorates the introduction of the eight-hour day, became a national public holiday in 1899.

Australia

The 40-hour five-day working week nationally beginning on 1 January 1948, an Eight Hour March began on April 21 1856 to celebrate the success.

United States

The eight-hour day was realized for many working people in the U.S. in 1938, when the Fair Labour Standards Act (29 U.S. Code Chapter 8) under the New Deal made it a legal day's work throughout the nation. The official month for labour day is In September.

France

Labour day became official in 1947 is celebrated on the 1st May, it is symbolised by giving a blossoming lilies known as lily-of-the-valley to bring luck to loved ones.

Norway

The socialist Labour Party is responsible for the creation of Labour Day. It became a Norwegian national holiday celebrated every May 1st following World War II.

Germany

In 1933, Labour day was officially established to form a union between the state and the working class. It is traditional to raise a Maypole on May 1 as it serves to welcome spring. May day is a public holiday on the 1st May.

Iceland

Labour day happens on the first weekend of August in Iceland, the day is celebrated by organising many activities and events and the town and city people would travel to the countryside for the weekend and spend the nights in tents and summerhouses.

Should Labour Day be celebrated?

Labour Day has made a great difference in daily working lives, where essentially workers were given better working conditions and became a valuable source of the economy of their country. The current working conditions and the rights of the working people has been a direct outcome of the success of Labour Day. This historical event and achievement should be valued and celebrated more.