May Day

May Day History

May Day is dedicated to honouring the achievements and struggles of workers. Focusing on labour rights, the day serves as an international celebration of the working class and labour movement, fostering worldwide unity. May Day is closely tied to the struggle for an eight-hour workday and improved working conditions, principles that remain relevant even today.

Initially emerging out of the labour rights movement in the United States in the 19th Century, May Day has since been adopted around the world. In New Zealand, the day is widely recognised and has a rich, storied history. The first reported New Zealand observance of May Day in a labour context took place as far back as 1890. Over the years, the day has been marked with various activities, reflecting the ongoing commitment of New Zealanders to workers' rights, fair pay, and reasonable hours of work.

In New Zealand, May Day observances often include public marches and rallies held in major cities, talks, and other collective activities aimed at promoting workers' rights. These often involve various labour unions, workers groups, and social activists. It's a day of solidarity, pervasive across national borders, uniting individuals in the common goal of fair and equitable working conditions. Despite New Zealand's geographical location in the Southern Hemisphere where seasons are opposite from the Northern Hemisphere, May Day, typically associated with the arrival of spring, is observed on the 1st of May, aligning with international traditions.

Facts about May Day

• May Day is also recognized as International Worker's Day, or Labor Day. This day commemorates workers rights and the labor movement. One popular cause that this day commemorates is the eight-hour workday.
• In France, it is customary to give a sweet smelling flower called the spring of lily of the valley (a symbol of springtime) on May 1st. The tradition started in 1561 when King Charles IX of France received a lily of the valley as a lucky charm.
• The red ribbon color often seen during the activities represents the labor movement. It's also a symbol of workers' solidarity, and resistance against exploitation.
• In Christchurch, people often gather at the Workers' Memorial in Christchurch to pay tribute to workers who lost their lives due to work accidents and to spread the message of worker solidarity.

In the News and Trending in NZ for May Day

Top things to do in NZ for May Day

• Dance around a Maypole. Decorate a tall pole with garlands of flowers and ribbons. Have a group of friends each take a ribbon and dance around the pole, interweaving the ribbons to form a braided affect. The braid can be undone by retracing one's steps.
• Have a picnic outdoors in the sunshine.
• Check out the May Day Parade in Wellington. Organized by the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU), the event features a parade through the city streets, followed by a festival with live music, food stalls, and activities for children.
• Visit the May Day Festival held in Dunedin. Organized by the Dunedin City Council, the event features live music, food stalls, and activities for children, as well as a maypole dance.