Labour Day
When is it celebrated
The Labour Festival is celebrated on 1 May, a fixed date on the calendar. In Spain the legal name is "Work Holiday" and does not depend on a mobile rule, although the annual publication of the work calendar allows us to verify how the rest is organised when it coincides with Sunday.
Is it a holiday or a working day?
It is a paid and non-recoverable public holiday throughout Spain. Article 37.2 of the Workers' Statute orders that 1 May be respected, in all cases, as a national holiday; In addition, the official calendar for each year specifies the non-working days and the possible effects of a coincidence on a Sunday, so it is advisable to consult it when organizing trips or shifts.
Origin and geographical link
Its scope is international, although each country gives it its own legal framework. The commemoration links with the workers' mobilizations that began in Chicago in May 1886 for the eight-hour day and with the decision of the Socialist Workers' Congress meeting in Paris in 1889 to establish an international day; Spain currently recognizes it as a national holiday.
Regular events
The most characteristic event are the demonstrations called by union organisations in numerous capitals and cities, with tours of central roads and final speeches. According to the local programming, rallies, tributes to figures of the labour movement, floral offerings, meetings and musical or social activities are also held.
Usual duration of events
The public core usually gathers during the morning or midday of 1 May: a march and the closing ceremony normally take up a few hours. Some organisations add previous or subsequent events, but the extension, schedules and itineraries change in each city and must be verified in the annual call.
Traditions and history
The memory of the Chicago protests and the so-called Chicago Martyrs turned the day into a symbol of the fight for labour rights. It continues to be a day of protest: the slogans and manifestos adapt to the problems of each moment, while the defence of decent work, union action and the memory of achievements such as the limitation of the working day remain common features.
Where is it celebrated
The work break applies throughout the Spanish territory. The collective celebrations are distributed in cities of all the autonomous communities and in Ceuta and Melilla; They usually travel through central streets and squares, but there is no single national headquarters or permanent itinerary.
Who participates
The union centres and their territorial organisations promote many of the marches and events. Workers, union representatives, social groups and citizens participate, while public authorities can attend certain calls; The specific composition depends on each location and year.