kjy04_20220501_b_f

As Labour Day on the 1st of May falls on Sunday this year, the Hong Kong Government has designated Monday, the 2nd of May, as a general holiday in substitution. What are the other names for Labour Day in the world? This special day is also known as the International Workers' Day or May Day.

May Day traditionally was an occasion for the celebration of the return of spring in Europe. In these ancient agricultural rituals, people would gather wildflowers and green branches, weave floral garlands and crown a May king and queen.

In the 19th century, May Day took on a new meaning. On the 1st of May, 1886, a group of workers in the USA started a campaign to demand an eight-hour working day. During that time, it was common for workers to work more than sixteen hours a day for very low pay.

In the 20th century, traditional May Day festivities declined in many countries because the 1st of May subsequently became an annual event honouring workers and the labour movement.

 

由於今年5 月1 日勞動節(Labour Day)為星期日,因此香港政府將5月2日星期一訂為補假。在世界上,Labour Day的其他名稱是甚麼?這個特殊的日子又被稱為International Workers' Day(國際工人日)或 May Day五朔節)。

五朔節傳統上是歐洲慶祝春回大地的時節。在這些古老的農耕禮儀裡,人們會採集野花和青樹枝,編織花冠, 並為五月國王和王后戴上王冠。

在19世紀,May Day添了新的意義。1886年5月1日,美國一群工人展開了一場運動,要求每天工時為八小時。當時,工人一天工作超過16小時且工資非常低,這是常見的情況。

在20世紀,傳統的May Day 慶典在許多國家式微,因為5月1 日漸漸成為了一年一度向工人致敬並紀念勞工運動的盛事。