May day

May day has pagan roots and is still celebrated in the traditional way around the world to this day. May day marked the end of the winter months in the northern hemisphere and welcomed warmer weather. Festivities included dancing around the maypole, spending the night around bonfires, and leaving baskets of flowers and treats on neighbors doorsteps.
The Maypole was traditionally a tree, which symbolizes fertility and vitality. The tree was cut down and stripped of all it's branches except the few at the top. The top branches were filled with violets. The Maypole symbolized the ancient Roman God Attis. Attis was forced to castrate himself after breaking a promise to the Goddess Cybele of chastity. Attis became depressed and threatened to kill himself so Cybele turned him into a fir tree. This story about Attis is one of many different accounts.

The Haymarket Riot

The Haymarket affair began on May 1, 1886. A group of mostly Anarchists were demonstrating for laborers rights in Chicago. One of the biggest concerns being the fight for the 8 hour work day. On May 3, police were used to protect the strike breakers and a riot ensued. One person was killed during this clash with police and demonstrators. The next day, May 4, the demonstration grew to about 1,500 to 2,000 people. People were angry and felt police were to blame for the death the day before. During one of the speakers of the demonstrations an anonymous person threw a pipe bomb into the gathered police men. A huge riot broke out in which 7-8 police officers were killed (the number of dead varies with different accounts.) over 60 people were injured and an unknown number of demonstrators were killed as well.

During the following weeks many demonstraters were arrested. Those arrested were beaten and confessed to conspiracy of murder, the legitimacy of these confessions is unknown. In the end eight anarchists were put on trial and 7 of them were found guilty of conspiracy of murder. Four were later hanged, 1 committed suicide and the other two were eventually pardoned by the governor. On March 2 1887 the first 8 hour day law was passed.

Since then May day has also been seen as a laborers holiday. The date marks the struggle for workers rights. To this day May day has been marked with political and other public demonstrations.