Beyond BBQs: Labor Day Unique Traditions Around the Globe
Every year in the United States, Americans celebrate Labor Day on the first Monday of September. This federal holiday aims to remember and honor the American Labor Movement and its contributions to labor rights. But beyond the classic BBQs, parades, and closeout sales of the summer in the U.S., there are other countries around the globe that join in celebrating the Labor Movement. Labor Day has become an international holiday that reflects each and every country’s unique culture, history, and traditions. So, let’s explore some countries that recognize it as a holiday and the different ways these countries celebrate it.
Canada
In Canada, since 1894, Labor Day has been a public holiday on the 1st Monday of September. Just as in the U.S., it marks the end of summer with people having picnics, parades, and other outdoor activities. Labor Day Weekend is typically one of the best times to shop for deals on just about everything. A fashion tradition in Canada and the United States is about not wearing white clothing after Labour Day.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has celebrated “Labor Day” on May 1st since 1978. It is considered a bank holiday unless it falls on a Monday which then becomes a public holiday. Traditional folklore of May 1st typically sees it as a festival of flowers right in between spring and summer.
Classic English May Day festivities include the coronation of a May Queen and merry gatherings featuring a maypole, in which dancers graciously dance around with colorful ribbons. It wasn’t until the late 20th century that May 1st was linked to International Workers’ Day. The day is not officially “Labor Day”.
France
In France “Fête du Travail”, the equivalent of Labor Day, has been a public holiday on May 1st since 1947. Its purpose is to remember and honor the Americans who lost their lives on the 1st of May 1886 when they went on strike demanding an 8-hour work day. There, it is more than just a celebration with parades, on this date demonstrations for workers’ rights organized by trade unions also take place.
Nowadays, the Lily of the Valley’s flowers are the symbol of Labor Day in France. On every 1st of May, since the beginning of the 20th century, Lilly of the Valley’s flowers are given as a symbol of appreciation or love in France. This tradition is believed to date back to the 1500s when a Knight gave King Charles IX some Lillies. The King loved the flowers so much to the point of gifting them to the ladies in his court every year on the same date.
Germany
Labor Day, known as “Tag der Arbeit” or German Labor Day, is a public holiday celebrated on May 1st since 1933. It is marked by demonstrations and rallies, with workers advocating for fair wages and better working conditions. Since 1987 it has also been known for riots in some districts of Berlin and big cities in Germany.
In traditional German folklore, it coincides with the celebration of Saint Walpurgis Night (Sankt Walpurgisnacht) or Witches’ Night. Saint Walpurgis Night is named after the 8th-century abbess who battled disease and witchcraft. In many places in Germany and around Europe, on the eve of May 1st is supposed when witches hold large celebrations in the mountains, so people have large bonfires meant to ward them off.
Japan
“Kenkoku Kinen no Hi” or Labor Thanksgiving Day is a public holiday celebrated every November 23 (unless it falls on a Sunday, then it moves to Monday) to honor and pay respects to labor and production, and for citizens to give each other thanks.
On this day, students create cards or give gifts to essential workers like police, firefighters, medical staff, and other people in the labor sector to show appreciation for their contribution to the country. Companies acknowledge workers’ achievements and families get together and share dinners. It’s a time for self-care and relaxation too.
On May 1st many trade unions in Japan also celebrate Labor Day by holding large rallies and marches in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya.
Croatia
Labor Day, called “Međunarodni praznik rada” in Croatian, is a national holiday celebrated on May 1st since 1890. In the beginning, it was considered the International Day of General Solidarity for workers. It wasn’t till 1996 that free and independent Croatia gave it the official holiday name of Labor Day.
Public events, fairs, and parades are organized around the country where Bean Soup is passed around as a symbol of a real worker’s dish. Nowadays, It recognizes the right to work, rest, and have a decent private life.
While the specifics and unique traditions may differ, the universal spirit of Labor Day remains the same which is recognizing and honoring the hard work, dedication, and contributions of workers worldwide. So as you fire up the grill and enjoy your Labor Day Weekend, take a moment to reflect on the diverse ways this important holiday is approached around the globe. Personally, I’m intrigued by the prospect of incorporating some of these traditions into my own life.