The Celts had a holiday on the first of May called Beltane.
They celebrated fertility and renewal with bonfires, baskets, Maypoles and flowers.
Ancient Rome had several festivals in May, including Maiuma, honoring Bacchus and
Venus. Over the years, many cultures have similar celebrations at this time of
year. In Chicago on May 3 1886, there was a rally at Haymarket Square in
support of workers striking for an eight-hour work day. When police tried to
stop the rally, two workers were killed and many injured. The following day, as
people gathered in the same place in protest, someone threw a bomb into the
crowd. This time, seven police and four civilians were killed. For a time, the
US set aside the first of May to commemorate the struggle to improve conditions
for workers. Though our country now celebrates Labor Day in September, much of
the rest of the world observes International Workers’ Day today.
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