About 1st May

(Read somewhere some time)

1st May was chosen as the date for international Workers' Day by the socialists and communists of the 2nd Internacional to commemorate the Haymarket affair that took place in Chicago. However, the holiday's roots go further back than the 19th century: in Roman times it was celebrated as Floralia; then in 9th century 1st May became the Christian feast day known as Walpurgis night.

The 1 May is a halfway date between the seasons - in this case spring solstice and summer equinox. It is an annual public holiday held in much of the globe's countries, deeply rooted in both the traditions of Europe's pagan spring festivals, and the centuries-old struggle of labourers for a more fair treatment by their employers, an important aim of socialist unions, communists, anarchists and the international labour movements. 

In Hungary, in the olden days, bands of young men would go out in the middle of the night to cut down trees, decorating them with ribbons and putting them at the gate of the house of the girl they loved, often hanging a bottle of palinka or wine on the tree to win the approval of her father. In the morning, the villagers went around the streets to see whose tree is the most beautiful; and which couples got together as a result. The celebration culminated in front of the church with people dancing in the street.

While most of the countries celebrating International Workers' Day also celebrate Labour Day on the same date (1st May), the United States and Canada celebrate it on the first Monday of September. It's considered the unofficial end of summer, with students returning to school right next day. 

The mounting of the maypole in Hungary dates back to the 15th century, but the foreign tradition has its roots in pagan holidays. The maypole is a whip tree with its branches cut off at the trunk and with a frondous tip or a neat branch. It is then decorated with ribbons, handkerchiefs, flowers and gilded eggs. If a girl had more than one suitor, the rivalling men sometimes resorted to vandalism and disfigured their enemy's maypole