Labour Day is an annual holiday to celebrate the achievements of workers. Labour Day has its origins in the labour union movement, specifically the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest.

For most countries, Labour Day is synonymous with, or linked with, International Workers’ Day, which occurs on 1 May. For other countries, Labour Day is celebrated on a different date, often one with special significance for the labour movement in that country. Labour Day is a public holiday in many countries.

In Canada and the United States, the holiday is celebrated on the first Monday of September and considered the unofficial end of summer, with summer vacations ending and students returning to school around then.

International Workers’ Day

For most countries, “Labour Day” is synonymous with, or linked with, International Workers’ Day, which occurs on 1 May. Some countries vary the actual date of their celebrations so that the holiday occurs on a Monday close to 1 May.

International Workers’ Day

Google is celebrating Labour Day with a Google Doodle honouring workers around the world. These are four interesting things you should know about Labour Day.

1. The holiday originated in the US city in 1886 as a protest in support of an eight-hour workday and saw thousands of labourers around the country take to the streets. The day commemorates the Haymarket affair, which took place on 4 May. The Haymarket affair began as a peaceful labour rally near Chicago’s Haymarket Square before turning violent when a protestor threw a bomb at police. At least eight people died as a result of the explosion, which led to the conviction of eight radical labour activists.

2. The Labour Day annually celebrates the achievements of the workers. While the day has different story for different countries, the main reason for Labour Day is unfair treatment of the labour class.

3. The number eight has often been spotted on many union buildings in Australia to symbolize an eight-hour working day. The Eight-Hour monument featuring a golden globe bearing the 888 symbol was built in Spring Street in Melbourne in 1903.

4. Labour Day Or May Day is called Antarrashtriya Shramik Diwas or Kamgar Din in India. It is also referred as International Workers’ Day or just Worker’s Day.

5. In many countries, Workers’ Day is known as Labor Day, such as America.

6. May Day has been celebrated unofficially in South Africa since the 1980s. May 1 only became an officially recognised public holiday after the democratic elections of 1994.