Labour Day is an annual holiday celebrated all over the world that resulted from efforts of the labour union movement, to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers The celebration of Labour Day has its origins in the eight hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest. On 21 April 1856 Stonemasons and building workers on building sites around Melbourne, Australia, stopped work and marched from the University of Melbourne to Parliament House to achieve an eight hour day. Their direct action protest was a success, and they are noted as the first organized workers in the world to achieve an eight hour day with no loss of pay, which subsequently inspired the celebration of Labour Day and May Day.[citation needed] Most countries celebrate Labour Day on May 1, known as May Day and International Workers' Day. In Europe the day has older significance as a rural festival which is predominantly more important than that of the Labour Day movement. The holiday has become internationalised and several countries hold multi-day celebrations including parades, shows and other patriotic and labour-oriented events. In Germany, Labour Day was established as an official holiday in 1933 after the Nazi Party, or NSDAP, rose to power. It was supposed to symbolise the new-found unity between the state and the German people. However, just one day later, on May 2, 1933, all free unions were outlawed and destroyed. But since the holiday had been celebrated by German workers for many decades before the official state endorsement, the NSDAP's attempt to appropriate it left no long-term resentment. In Pakistan, Labour Day is a national holiday. Labour unions hold seminars and walks. In Poland, Labour Day May 1 was renamed "State Holiday" in 1990. In Slovenia, May 1 and May 2 are national holidays and work-free days throughout the country. In Sweden, Finland and Norway, May 1 is a national holiday celebrated through widespread demonstrations by the entire workers' movement. In Italy, May 1 is national holiday, demonstrations of the trade unions are widespread. Since the '90s, the trade unions have organised a massive free concert in Rome, with attendances topping a million people. In Jordan, May 1 is a national holiday. In Denmark May 1 is celebrated through widespread demonstrations by the entire workers' movement throughout the country. There are also outdoor activities celebrating the day in many major cities. In Israel May 1 is not officially celebrated, but each year the socialist and Marxist youth movements arrange a parade in Tel Aviv. In Korea, Labour Day is a national holiday for labourers. In Iceland, 1 May is a national holiday. In Ireland, Labour Day (also called May Day) is celebrated on the first Monday in May, and is a public holiday. In Thailand, 1 May is a national holiday. In Vietnam, Labour Day is a national holiday on May 1 following another national holiday, April 30, which is the day the North and the South were unified in 1975. In Romania, 1 May is a national holiday. In Bulgaria, 1 May is a national holiday. In Latvia, May 1 is a national holiday. In Egypt, 1 May is the national holiday Celebrating the Australian labour movement, the Labour Day public holiday is fixed by the various state and territory governments, and so varies considerably. It is the first Monday in October in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and South Australia. In both Victoria and Tasmania, it is the second Monday in March (though the latter calls it Eight Hours Day). In Western Australia, Labour Day is the first Monday in March. In both Queensland and the Northern Territory, it is the first Monday in May. Labour Day has been celebrated on the first Monday in September in Canada since the 1880s. The origins of Labour Day in Canada can be traced back to April 14, 1872 when a parade was staged in support of the Toronto Typographical Union's strike for a 58-hour work-week.[2] The Toronto Trades Assembly (TTA) called its 27 unions to demonstrate in support of the Typographical Union who had been on strike since March 25.[2] George Brown, Canadian politician and editor of the Toronto Globe hit back at his striking employees, pressing police to charge the Typographical Union with "conspiracy."[2] Although the laws criminalizing union activity were outdated and had already been abolished in Great Britain, they were still on books in Canada and police arrested 24 leaders of the Typographical Union. Labour leaders decided to call another similar demonstration on September 3 to protest the arrests. Seven unions marched in Ottawa, prompting a promise by Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald to repeal the "barbarous" anti-union laws.[2] Parliament passed the Trade Union Act on June 14 the following year, and soon all unions were demanding a 54-hour work-week. India started observing Labour Day beginning on May 1, 1927. It is a public holiday with processions carried out by various labour organizations. In Maharashtra (a State in India) Labour Day is also known as Maharashtra Diwas as state of Maharashtra was created on same day in 1960. Labour Day has been celebrated on the first Monday in September in Canada since the 1880s. The origins of Labour Day in Canada can be traced back to April 14, 1872 when a parade was staged in support of the Toronto Typographical Union's strike for a 58-hour work-week.[2] The Toronto Trades Assembly (TTA) called its 27 unions to demonstrate in support of the Typographical Union who had been on strike since March 25.[2] George Brown, Canadian politician and editor of the Toronto Globe hit back at his striking employees, pressing police to charge the Typographical Union with "conspiracy."[2] Although the laws criminalizing union activity were outdated and had already been abolished in Great Britain, they were still on books in Canada and police arrested 24 leaders of the Typographical Union. Labour leaders decided to call another similar demonstration on September 3 to protest the arrests. Seven unions marched in Ottawa, prompting a promise by Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald to repeal the "barbarous" anti-union laws.[2] Parliament passed the Trade Union Act on June 14 the following year, and soon all unions were demanding a 54-hour work-week. Labor Day is a United States federal holiday that takes place on the first Monday of September.
Labour Day is September 1 in Canada and the States. the Tuesday following Labour Day is back to school day in Ontario. I always called that Mother's Day. Almost every town celebrates. Big union towns have picnics some even have parades and fire works. Nice day out for the last bash of summer because school starts the following Tuesday.
I'm so sorry...!!! I missed the States and Canada. I just had the notes from school and was typing fromt them...I'll edit.
