May Day 2023
Happy International Workers Day to all the workers that make the world go round!!! Today I want to analyze the cultures I grew up with and how their countries have gone on with their celebrations and honored the working class.
I was born in the US to an Irish dad and Cuban mom, so those will be the three cultures I’m talking about here. Take note that I’m focusing on how the governments support cultural celebrations of the people that actually drive their economies.
In the United States, I couldn’t find much that the government actually does to recognize the holiday. I never remember having the holiday off from work or school. The US and Canada do celebrate Labor Day in September though which is an attempt to isolate workers in North America and workers of the world. [Funny because the events that inspired the conception of May Day as an international holiday actually happened in the United States. In May 1886, the Haymarket Riot took place in Chicago, Illinois. Workers organizing for an 8 hour work day and against police brutality held multiple protests. While monitoring, police were agitated by the revolutionary ideas spoke of and deadly violence broke out. This event sparked conversation around the globe! Workers, socialists, and communists alike partook in acts of solidarity with American workers. A few years later, Paris Congress held an international demonstration of workers called the “the Second International” modeled after Marx’s “First International.” They declared that May 1st would be an international holiday where we would celebrate labor by organizing to improve the working conditions in our separate countries to ensure peace among the nations.]
In Ireland, they give people the day off. They call it a bank holiday. Most people don’t go to work, school is out, everyone kinda rests. It’s recognized but not really celebrated per say. Traditionally in Europe, May Day is associated with Pagan traditions that celebrate the incoming of summer. And in Ireland, the Celtic festival Lá Bealtaine marks the end of winter and the beginning of a busy farming season. Flowers, dancing, and bonfires turn into symbols of happiness and protection from supernatural forces disturbing their crops and loved ones. These mystical traditions have waned in popularity as working class solidarity has risen. The holiday took on the new meaning officially when it became a public holiday in 1993 thanks to the continuous organizing of the people and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
In Cuba, there’s mass mobilization. This year the Cuban president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, and government welcomed delegations of workers from Africa, South America, the International People’s Assembly’s May Day Brigade from the US. They shared the many initiatives Cuban workers are making happen for each other. From accessible education, medicine, and housing, to steadfast investment in cultural institutions instead of profit hungry carceral systems; Cuba remains determined to care for the people despite the lack of resources created by the US blockade. A relevant example of this is the annual May Day Parade (which usually millions participate in across Cuba and hundreds of thousands march in Havana) was canceled this year due to fuel shortages because the American blockade. If you have the time please watch this video highlighting the reflections of American organizers on their trip to Cuba.
I have to mention that the US did “celebrate” with customs and border patrol agents in Miami, Atlantla, and Newark airports siezing members of this delegation upon their return to intimidate them. This didn’t deter any of the socialists, but lead them to a stronger analysis about freedom in the US. Where is it? The US loves to talk about freedom but when it comes to supporting people fighting to be free, the US fails. History’s and today’s examples continue to accurately predict America’s affinity for policing instead of freeing.
