May 1 or May Day? Political or religious?

A bit of history
In the 20th century the first victories of May Day began to be won with workers in different countries getting an eight-hour working day.
In 1836, after winning the ten-hour day in Philadelphia, the National Laborer declared: "We have no desire to perpetuate the ten-hour system, for we believe that eight hours' daily labor is more than enough for any man to perform". In 1872, a hundred thousand workers in New York City struck and won the eight-hour day, mostly for building trades workers.

The movement for the eight-hour day was wedded to the date of May 1 at an 1884 convention of the three-year-old Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions of the United States and Canada. George Edmonston, founder of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, introduced a resolution designed to crystallize labor's support for the eight-hour day: "Resolved ... that eight hours shall constitute a legal day's labor from and after May 1, 1886, and that we recommend to labor organizations throughout this district that they so direct their laws so as to conform to this resolution by the time named".

In 1917 the Russian workers succeeded in breaking out of the grip of war and setting up a new society. The new state, the Soviet Union, became the hope of workers everywhere and May Day demonstrations in other countries pledged friendship and support.
Revolutions around the world, in Russia, China, Korea, Vietnam, Cuba, and others, showed that capitalist rule was not secure.

Celebrations around the world
The demonstrations maintain the tradition launched 112 years ago by the Interanationl Socialist Congress that the first day of May should be a day of working class struggle and solidarity all over the world. On May 1 the world working class displays its strength in demonstrations and strikes.

A few years ago in Russia thousands of people participated in demonstrations and walked along the city streets with flowers and ballons. Subbotniki were organized in schools and offices. Nowadays May 1 is a fine opportunity for people to organize a picnic, spend some time in the open air or go to their country house.

In Oxford (Great Britain) on May Morning many pubs are open from sunrise, and some of the college bars are open all night. Madrigals are still sung from the roof of the tower of Magdalen College, with thousands gathering on Magdalen Bridge to listen. Traditionally, revellers have jumped from the bridge into the River Cherwell below as part of the celebrations. About one hundred people did this in 2005. The river, however, was then only three feet deep in places and more than half of those who jumped needed medical treatment.

In today's Germany May Day is of political importance, with labor unions and parties using this day for political campaigns and activities. However, May Day 2005 in Berlin was the most peaceful in nearly 23 years.

Since 2001, EuroMayDay has become part of the celebration of the First of May, aiming to update the political content of the traditional May Day. EuroMayDay aims to create visible opposition against precarization of labour and life. EuroMayDay was originated in Milan, Italy, from where it first spread to Barcelona in 2004 and then to over a dozen cities all over Europe in 2005. In 2005, approximately 200.000 people took part in the Europe-wide EuroMayDay.

In the United States Labor Day, dedicated to the social and economic achievements of the country, is celebrated on the first Monday in September.

Vocabulary
To perpetuate – to make smth continue to exist for a long time; to preserve
To conform – to obey or to be in accordance with established rules
Grip – a very tight forceful hold
Tribute – payment made by one ruler, govermnent or country to another as the price of peace, protection, etc.
Madrigal – song for several singers without instruments.
Reveller = merrymaker

May has always been an occasion for popular celebrations. Pagan May Day, originally the Celtic holiday Beltane, the "Return of the Sun", is the third and last of the spring festivals.

Dance in May!

May Day, originally the Celtic holiday Beltane, the "Return of the Sun", is the third and last of the spring festivals. May is the time of year when warmer weather begins and flowers and trees start to blossom and also the time of love and romance. It has always been an occasion for popular celebrations.

A bit of history
In Britain May Day celebrations have their origins in the Roman festival of Flora, goddess of flowers, which marked the beginning of summer. People decorated their houses and villages with fresh-cut flowers gathered at dawn in the belief that the vegetation spirits would bring good fortune. In the very early morning, young girls went to the fields and washed their faces with dew. They believed this made them very beautiful for a year after that. Also on May Day the young men of each village tried to win prizes with their bows and arrows, and people danced round the Maypole, a tall pole wreathed with flowers to which in later times ribbons were attached and held by the dancers.
The girls put on their best summer frocks, plaited flowers in their hai and round their waists and eagerly awaited the crowning of the May Queen usually the most beautiful or the most popular schoolgirl. She was crowned with a garland of flowers by her predecessor of the year before or by some local notability.
Nowadays these beautiful traditions still exist. On the 1st of May a May Queen may be elected. Some villages still have a maypole. Children dance round it, holding the ribbons. An open-air sale of goods, many of them home made, is held, and it is usually accompanied by sports contests, children’s entertainments and games.

In Hawaii, May Day is also known as Lei Day, and is normally set aside as a day to celebrate island culture in general and native Hawaiian culture in particular.

In rural regions of Germany, Walpurgisnacht celebrations of pagan origin are traditionally held on the night before May Day, including bonfires and the wrapping of May Poles, and young people use this opportunity to party, while the day itself is used by many families to get some fresh air and beer.
Motto: "Tanz in den Mai!" ("Dance in May!").

Немного на русском...

Первое мая по-английски

В средневековой Англии в первый день мая традиционно устраивался праздник весны, который начинался на рассвете, когда молодые девушки выходили на луга и умывались утренней росой. Существовало поверье, что это сделает их красивыми на весь следующий год.
На лужайке устанавливался длинный шест, украшенный цветами и разноцветными лентами, за которые держались танцующие юноши и девушки. В этот день было принято надевать самые лучшие весенние наряды: яркие летние сарафаны и шляпки, украшенные цветами и лентами. Девушки ожидали, кто из них будет выбран королевой Мая, а юноши участвовали в различных состязаниях, демонстрируя свою смелость и ловкость. После коронации королевы Мая цветочной гирляндой начинались задорные игры, песни и танцы, продолжавшиеся до заката.
До сегодняшнего дня во многих английских деревушках сохранилась традиция устанавливать украшенный цветами и лентами длинный шест и устраивать весёлый праздник с национальными песнями и танцами, весёлыми играми и состязаниями.

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