"The Day of Spring and Labour"
International Workers' Day (also known as May Day) is a celebration of the international labour movement. May 1 is a national holiday in more than 80 countries and celebrated unofficially in many other countries.
May Day was celebrated illegally in Russia until the February Revolution enabled the first legal celebration in 1917. The following year, after the Bolshevik seizure of power, the May Day celebrations were boycotted by Mensheviks, Left Socialist Revolutionaries and anarchists. It became an important official holiday of the Soviet Union, celebrated with elaborate popular parade in the centre of the major cities. The biggest celebration was traditionally organized on the Red Square, where the General Secretary of the CPSU and other party and government leaders stood atopLenin's Mausoleum and waved to the crowds. Since 1992, May Day is officially called "The Day of Spring and Labour", and remains a major holiday in present-day Russia.
Many Russians use this public holiday to relax. Some may go on a retreat to their country homes (called dachas) to work in the garden or spend time with their families. It is also common for people to have picnics or barbecues. Men may give spring flowers, especially tulips and lilacs, to women, and parents may buy balloons and ice-cream to their children to celebrate the end of the cold season in Russia.
Spring and Labor Day lost its socialist meaning after the Soviet Union’s collapse, but some political parties and labor unions may still organize demonstrations on this day. Party members and labor union activists may participate in such demonstrations.
Blooming branches of fruit trees – a symbol of approaching summer.
Balloons – a symbol of celebration.
Images of flowers, tree blossoms and balloons often appear in artwork related to Spring and Labor Day in Russia.
May Day was celebrated illegally in Russia until the February Revolution enabled the first legal celebration in 1917. The following year, after the Bolshevik seizure of power, the May Day celebrations were boycotted by Mensheviks, Left Socialist Revolutionaries and anarchists. It became an important official holiday of the Soviet Union, celebrated with elaborate popular parade in the centre of the major cities. The biggest celebration was traditionally organized on the Red Square, where the General Secretary of the CPSU and other party and government leaders stood atopLenin's Mausoleum and waved to the crowds. Since 1992, May Day is officially called "The Day of Spring and Labour", and remains a major holiday in present-day Russia.
Many Russians use this public holiday to relax. Some may go on a retreat to their country homes (called dachas) to work in the garden or spend time with their families. It is also common for people to have picnics or barbecues. Men may give spring flowers, especially tulips and lilacs, to women, and parents may buy balloons and ice-cream to their children to celebrate the end of the cold season in Russia.Spring and Labor Day lost its socialist meaning after the Soviet Union’s collapse, but some political parties and labor unions may still organize demonstrations on this day. Party members and labor union activists may participate in such demonstrations.
The most common symbols of Spring and Labor Day are:
Flowers, especially tulips and lilacs – symbols of late spring.Blooming branches of fruit trees – a symbol of approaching summer.
Balloons – a symbol of celebration.
Images of flowers, tree blossoms and balloons often appear in artwork related to Spring and Labor Day in Russia.
Yuri Vladimirovich Tolubeyev was born this day. He was a Soviet theatrical and cinema actor, a Hero of the Socialist Labour.
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