The first of May in the USSR, as it was. History and traditions of celebrating May Day May 1 as it was called in Soviet times

Russians celebrate Spring and Labor Day, or International Workers' Day, on May 1. This holiday is celebrated in other countries as well.

During times Soviet Union The holiday, which is celebrated on the first day of May, was known as International Workers' Day. In 1992, after the collapse of the USSR, it was renamed the Spring and Labor Festival. In other countries, the names Labor Day and Spring Day are also common.

May Day began to be celebrated after large-scale rallies and demonstrations of workers took place on May 1, 1886 in Chicago (USA), demanding the introduction of an eight-hour working day. The protest ended in clashes with the police.

In 1890, the Paris Congress of the Second International decided to hold annual workers' demonstrations on May 1. That same year, May Day demonstrations were held in Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Italy, the United States, Norway, France and Sweden in solidarity with Chicago workers. The main slogan of the demonstrations was the demand for an eight-hour working day.

In Russia in 1890, there were no large-scale actions on this day; only on the westernmost outskirts of the empire - in Warsaw - was a strike in which 10 thousand workers took part.

May Day became widespread in Russia in the 20th century. So, in 1901, May Day demonstrations of workers took place in St. Petersburg, Tbilisi, Gomel, Kharkov and other cities. They were accompanied by political slogans, in particular “Down with autocracy!”, and clashes with troops.

More than 400 thousand workers took part in the May Day strikes and demonstrations of 1912-1914. In 1917, after the February Revolution, May Day was celebrated openly for the first time.

After the October Revolution of 1917, May Day in Russia became official holiday. It was called International Day and was enshrined in the Labor Code.

In 1970, the holiday was renamed International Workers' Day. It was celebrated for two days – May 1 and 2, but demonstrations were always held on the first day, reports rosregistr. After the collapse of the USSR, in 1992, it received a new name - the Spring and Labor Festival.

Currently, mass actions - demonstrations and rallies for social and labor justice - are carried out by political parties and trade unions, and for the general public folk festivals and concerts.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, this date continues to be celebrated. But the previous excitement around the holiday is no longer there, and the main joy from it is the additional days off. The last parade dedicated to May 1 was held in 1990.

Now this day is traditionally celebrated with a picnic, and for many residents of the country this is an additional opportunity to work in the garden.

Despite the fact that the holiday no longer pleases people on such a scale, its significance is not forgotten. The famous slogan “Peace! Work! May!" still continues to sound in congratulations. The warm holiday, which united the entire working class, will remain among the most beloved.

Countries that belonged to the former Eastern democracy have long been accepted into such unions as the EU, as well as NATO. They have long forgotten that on such a holiday as May 1, you need to walk smartly, with flowers, in large columns past the standing stands with party bosses.

In the countries of the former USSR, everything is a little different. For example, in Kazakhstan, May Day is celebrated as the Day of Unity of all peoples who live in Kazakhstan. In Ukraine, and especially in Kyiv, on this holiday, communists festively go out into the squares, and the rest of the people go to the forest for a picnic.

In some countries, such a grandiose holiday as May 1 still takes the place of a public holiday. For example, in South Africa, the Day of Solidarity of All Workers is held under the strict patronage of the authorities. All state trade unions organize exhibitions of work products folk art, there are also sales of various goods, only at significantly reduced prices. Sometimes there are performances by amateur groups or real professional musical groups.

Pragmatic residents of America work as always on May 1. Many countries in Europe also support hardworking American workers. In only one country - England, May Day is a legal day off. Back in 1977, while the Labor Party was still in power, this date became public holiday. Naturally, this caused a real shock among conservatives.

Traditionally, the beginning of May is perceived as a reason for relaxation. After all, for Russians this is the beginning May holidays, including Spring and Labor Day. But not everyone can tell what history May Day has, and how the name and traditions of the holiday changed.

When did the tradition of celebrating May 1st appear?

If we go deeper into history, then back in ancient times our ancestors organized large-scale celebrations that took place at the end of April and beginning of May. In this way they tried to appease the gods before starting work in the fields. Thus, the inhabitants of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, in the last month of spring, organized a big holiday in honor of the goddess Maya, who was the patroness of farmers.

The Slavs celebrated the departure of the spring cold and welcomed the goddess Zhiva, who, according to legend, had the power to revive nature. During the celebrations, people took baths in cold water and burned ritual bonfires on the banks of rivers.

How is May Day connected with workers?

Two centuries ago, the working day of the poor lasted from 12 to 15 hours, which naturally made the people very tired. On April 21, 1856, protest marches were held in Australia by workers who demanded that the working day be reduced to 8 hours without reducing wages. They managed to achieve their goal.

The successful strikes of Australians inspired Americans to fight for their rights. On May 1, 1886, mass protests took place in many US cities. Their center of protests was Chicago, where about 40,000 workers took to the streets to demand a reduction in the working day to 8 hours. The demonstrators were brutally dispersed by the police, and the very next day about 1,000 workers were left on the street without work. Mass layoffs prompted the working class to a new wave of discontent. During new demonstrations, many protesters were shot.

In memory of the victims, the Paris Congress of the Second International declared May 1, 1890, the Day of Solidarity of Workers of the World and proposed to mark it with demonstrations demanding an 8-hour working day and other social demands. The holiday has become an annual event.

Labor rally in Chicago

How was May 1 celebrated in Russia?

In the Russian Empire, May Day was first celebrated in 1890 in Warsaw. The following year, St. Petersburg rejoiced in World Workers' Day, albeit underground. May 1 was first openly celebrated in Russia in 1917. In all cities of the country, millions of workers took to the streets with the slogans of the Communist Party “All power to the Soviets”, “Down with the capitalist ministers”.

In 1918, post-revolutionary Russia adopted a law stating that May 1 would be celebrated at the national level. Initially, this holiday was called International Day. Since 1930, May 1st has been known as the International Proletarian Solidarity Day. During the Great Patriotic War it was renamed the Battle Festival of the International Proletariat. Only after this did the official name appear - International Labor Day. Since 1997, on May 1, Russians have celebrated Spring and Labor Day.

How is May 1 celebrated in modern Russia?

The tradition of holding demonstrations on this day has been preserved. Rallies are held by political parties and trade unions. Many people are happy to go out to their summer cottages or gardens on the first day of May and spend the workers' holiday working on the land. People also often go out on May 1st for a picnic with family or friends.

Where else in the world is May 1 celebrated?

The first day of May is officially celebrated as National holiday more than 60 countries of the world. Including in Austria, France, China, Turkey, Belgium, etc. Some countries also have their own Labor Day holiday, but celebrate it on a different day. For example, in the USA it is celebrated on the first Monday of September.

The holiday of May 1 or May Day is well known in Russia, the USA, and European countries and is celebrated on May 1, or on the first day off of the month. In the recent past, in the Soviet Union, May Day celebrations were called “International Workers’ Day” and had state status, with established days off.

In other countries, the celebration taking place in the first days of the spring month is called “Spring Day”, “Labor Day”, etc. In Russia, since 1997, the first day of May is called the “Festival of Spring and Labor.” The origins of May Day are usually sought in paganism, it is popular among citizens, with a geography spanning several continents.

Pagan roots May 1

The ancient Romans began celebrating the spring holiday about 3 thousand years ago. After sowing, to obtain a good harvest, sacrifices were made to the goddess of earth and fertility Maya. The ancient Greeks cut down branches from the sacred Attis pine, decorated them with fur decorations and solemnly brought them into the pantheon. Along the way they danced, sang songs and rejoiced, trying to appease the forces of nature. Perhaps the tradition of the spring festival began from those times.

In France, Germany, Austria and some other Western European countries, the night from April 30 to May 1 is known as “Walpurgis Night.” By folk beliefs, it is at this time that the “evil spirit” is rampant. People gather together, light fires, dance around them, sing songs and even shoot, in order to scare away the “evil spirits.”

A holiday celebrated in Russia, the USA and a number of countries in Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia on the first day of May, is known under several names - International Workers' Day, Spring and Labor Day, Labor Day, Spring Day. IN Soviet time Most Russians named this holiday by the date it was held - May 1 or May Day.

The history of the tradition of celebrating May Day is connected with events that occurred in the USA in Chicago in the 19th century. On May 1, 1886, large-scale rallies and demonstrations of workers began in the city demanding an eight-hour working day. The protest ended in clashes with the police. On May 3, at Cyrus McCormick's reaper plant, police opened fire on strikers, killing at least two workers. On May 4, at a protest rally in Haymarket, a terrorist threw a bomb at police, who responded by firing into the crowd. Sixty police officers were injured, eight were killed, and the exact number of workers killed was not determined. The police arrested hundreds of townspeople, and seven anarchist workers were sentenced to death.

In July 1889, the Paris Congress of the Second International, at the proposal of the French delegate Raymond Lavigne, as a sign of solidarity with Chicago workers, decided to hold annual labor demonstrations on May 1.

On May 1, 1890, the holiday was first held in Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Italy, USA, Norway, France and Sweden. In the UK it took place on May 4th. The main slogan of the demonstrations was the demand for an eight-hour working day.

In 1891, by decision of the Brussels Congress of the Second International, sections of the International in each country were given the right to independently set the date and form of celebration of May 1, after which in Great Britain and some other countries the demonstrations were moved to the first Sunday in May.

On May 1, 1891, the Social Democratic group of revolutionary Mikhail Brusnev organized the first festive gathering of workers in Petrograd (St. Petersburg).

After the October Revolution of 1917, the holiday became official. It was enshrined in the Labor Code (in the appendix to Article 104) and was called International Day.

In honor of the holiday, the first May Day parade of the Red Army took place in Moscow on Khodynka Field, in which about 30 thousand people took part. Military parades as part of the celebration of May 1 became traditional and were held annually.

On July 30, 1928, by a resolution of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee of the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR, the weekends of Soviet citizens became longer - there were two Days of the International - May 1 and 2.

The first air parade took place over Red Square. From this point on, air parades were held regularly until the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, as an integral part of the demonstration of Soviet military power. At these parades, the achievements of the Soviet aviation industry were shown - such as the Maxim Gorky aircraft, the fastest fighter of its time, the I-16, and others.

On May 1, 1956, a television report was made for the first time about a military parade and a demonstration of workers on Red Square.

Since that time, festive events on Red Square have been broadcast annually by central television channels.

In 1970, the Fundamentals of USSR Labor Legislation assigned a new name to the holiday: May 1 and 2 officially became International Workers' Days.

On May 1, 1990, the official May Day demonstration took place for the last time.

An alternative column with anti-communist and anti-Soviet slogans entered Red Square. USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev and other leaders of the country left the podium of the Mausoleum, the television broadcast of the event was stopped, and the military parade did not take place.

In 1992, International Workers' Day was renamed Spring and Labor Day.

According to statistics, only 20% of Russians know at least something about the history of the origin of the May 1st holiday. We all love to relax on May Day, and we don’t want to know how this holiday came about, but we need to. We offer a short excursion into how this holiday was celebrated by citizens.

The holiday dates back to the end of the 19th century. At that time, strikes of workers took place all over the world, protesting the introduction of an eight-hour working day at enterprises. And just on May 1, 1890, such a strike took place in Warsaw. And already in 1900, a demonstration of workers was organized.

After the February victory, this holiday began to be celebrated freely. Millions of workers took part in demonstrations across the country under the slogans of the Bolshevik Party. Only the nature and meaning of this holiday has changed somewhat. Now the May Day demonstrations expressed the solidarity of the Soviet people with the struggle waged by workers in capitalist countries. Particular emphasis was placed on the struggle for the global construction of a communist society.

After the May 1 holiday, it began to be held under slogans mobilizing the country's workers to fight, the goal of which was the construction, and then communism. For quite a long period of time, the holiday of May 1 in the USSR has been one of the most important public holidays.

In 1990, Soviet rulers climbed behind the mausoleum for the last time with socialist slogans. Already in 1992, a decree was issued to rename this holiday to the Spring and Labor Festival. Although it was also used to express the will of workers to protect their rights.

Of course, many old-timers miss those days. It is very difficult to compare modern demonstrations with those that took place on May Day in Soviet times.

Then they prepared for the holiday in two, or even three, weeks. They drew posters with slogans, inflated balloons, and printed photographs of famous political figures. The majority of people took part in the May Day demonstration with great pleasure, and only the leaders of production trusted to carry portraits of the leaders of the Soviet Union, for whom it was considered an honor.