May Day

May Day is a spring festival with a varitey of origins.  It has a combination of Pagan "Green Root" traditions and "Red Root" (labor) traditions.  Green Root Holidays are titled in Green

The Celtic festival of Beltane (see below)
The Germanic Festival of Walpurgis Night (see below)
The Traditional start of Summer
The Roman Festival of Flora
The May Crowning or The Start of Mary's Month (Roman Catholic)

International Worker's Day also occurs on May Day (see below)

May Day is celebrated in some form in Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Argentina, Aruba, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo (Republic of), Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Curacao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Djibouti, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, French, Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar/Burma, Namibia, New Caledonia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saba, San Marino, Sao Tome & Principe, Scotland, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sint Maarten/St. Martin, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Eustatius, St. Lucia, St. Pierre & Miquelon, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Uganda, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City State, Venezuela, Vietnam, Wales, Yemen, Zaire (Democratic Congo), and Zambia.   

Beltane 

Beltane or Beltaine (Anglican) is a Gaelic festival held on the first day of May, marking the beginning of Summer. It is also spelled Bealtaine (Irish), Bealltainn (Scottish-Gaelic) Boaltinn or Boaldyn (Manx-Gaelic). It has historically been observed in  in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man amond nd has been adopted by Celtic Neopagans and Wiccans as an offical holiday. 

Calan Mai 

Calan Mai or Calan Haf is a Welsh festival held on the first day of May, marking the beginning of summer. It has been historically celebrated in Wales. It has been traditionally celebrated with song, dance, and sport. The Celebration actually starts with May Eve on April 30th, also called Nos Galan Mai. 

Walpurgis Night 

Walpurgis Night (Walpurgisnacht) is a traditional spring festival celebrated on April 30th and May 1st in most of Central and Northern Europe. It is six months from All Hallows' Eve.  It is named after the English missionary Saint Walpurga, and is often celebrated through bonfires and dance.

In Czech Republic, Walpurgis Night is known as čarodějnice  (The Witches) or pálení čarodějnic (The Burning of the Witches) or Valpuržina noc (Walpurgis Night).  It is celebrated with bonfires and burning straw witches.
In Estonia, April 30th is known as Volbriöö or Walpurgi öö, and May 1st is known as Kevadpüha (Spring Day) they are celebrated in an outdoors carnival where patrons often dress as witches.
In Finland, Walpurgis Night is known as Vappu, it is a major holiday in Finland and starts on April 30th and Ends on May 1st.
In Germany, Walpurgis Night is known as Walpurgisnacht and is celebrated outdoors with bonfires.
In Latvia, Walpurgis Night is known as Valpurģu Nakts or Valpurģi
In Lithuania, Walpurgis Night is known as Valpurgijos Naktis
In Sweden, Walpurgis Night is known as Valborgsmässoafton, it is a growing holiday with parades and bonfires.
In Upper Sorbian, Walpurgis Night is known as Chodojtypalenje.
In Lower Sorbian, Walpurgis Night is known as Chódotypalenje.
In the Netherlands, Queens-Day coincides with Walpurgis Night, some parts of the Netherlands celebrate with bonfires, similar to Walpurgis Night.

International Workers' Day 

Raymond Lavigne, observed the anniversary of the Chicago protests.  May Day was formally recognized as an annual event in 1891 at the second congress of the Second International.  May day became a show of solidarity and force from the labour movement. Often devolving into rioting, as in the May Day Riots of 1894. 

The International Socialist Conference meeting in Amsterdam in 1904 called on "all Social Democratic Party organizations and trade unions of all countries to demonstrate energetically on May First for the legal establishment of the 8-hour day, for the class demands of the proletariat, and for universal peace." The congress proposed that May Day be "mandatory upon the proletarian organizations of all countries to stop work on May 1, wherever it is possible without injury to the workers." 

The working class and labour movements have been successful in establishing May Day as an official holiday in over 80 countries, and observed in many more. It is usually observed through union parades, rallies, public events, speeches, and protests.  In some countries violence errupts. 
International Worker's Day, or some equivalent of, is celebrated in Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Argentina, Aruba, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo (Republic of), Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Curacao, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Djibouti, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, France, French, Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar/Burma, Namibia, New Caledonia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saba, San Marino, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, St. Eustatius, St. Lucia, St. Pierre & Miquelon, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City State, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zaire (Democratic Congo), and Zambia 

In Algeria, May 1st is an official holiday known as International Workers' Day or May Day.
In Argentina, May 1st is an official holiday known as Worker's Day since 1930, unofficially observed since 1890.
In Australia,  Labor Day is NOT celebrated on May 1st, It is observed at different times depending on the province CLICK HERE
In Austria, May 1st is an official holiday known as Staatsfeiertag, or Tag der Arbeit (Labor Day).
In Bahrain, May 1st is known as Labour Day.
In Belgium, May 1st is an official holiday known as Dag van de Arbeid in Dutch and Journée des Travailleurs in French.
In Bolivia, May 1st is known as Labour Day.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, May 1st is an official holiday known as Prvi Maj.
In Brazil, May 1st is Worker's Day.
In Bulgaria, May 1st is an official holiday known as International Workers' Solidarity Day since 1945.
In Canada, International Worker's Day is not officially observed but many labour groups do demonstrate on the day.  The first Monday in September is the official Labour Day in Canada. In Quebec, Canada, May 1st is International Labour Day or Fête des Travailleurs (Workers' Day).
In Chile, May 1st has been an official holiday since 1931.
In Columbia, may 1st is known as Dia del Trabajo (Labor Day).
In Croatia, May 1st is an official holiday known as Prvi Svibanj.
In Cuba, May 1st is an official holiday known as El Día Del Trabajo.
In Djibouti, May 1st is an official holiday known as Fete du Travail.
In Ecuador, May 1st is known as Día Del Trabajo.
In Egypt, May 1st is an official holiday known as Labor Day.  It is organized by the Egyptian Federation for Independent Trades Unions, pior to the arab spring it was organized by the president.
In France, May 1st is an official holiday known as Journée des Travailleurs.
In Germany, May 1st is an official holiday known as Tag der Arbeit (Day of Labour), formerly Day of National Work.  It has a violent past, especially in West Berlin prior to German unification.  The violence has returned in recent years due to far right groups like neo-nazis attempting to demonstrate on the same day as left-wing protesters.
In Greece, May 1st is an official holiday known as Εργατική Πρωτομαγιά, which in recent years has been marred by riots due to the unstable economy in Greece.
In Haiti, May 1st is an official holiday known as Agriculture and Labor Day.

In Hong Kong, May 1st is an official holiday known as Labour Day since 1999.
In Iceland, May 1st is an official holiday known as Frídagur Verkalýðsins (Labour Day).
In India, May 1st has been an official holiday since 1923.  It is also Maharashtra Day, the day Maharashtra became an Indian State, and Gujarat Day, the day Gujarat became an Indian State.
In Italy, May 1st is an official holiday celebrated with the Concerto del Primo Maggio ("1 May's Concert"),
In Jordan, May 1st is known as Labour Day.
In Libya, May 1st is an official holiday known as International Workers' Day.  It is organized by the National Transitional Council of Libya post-arab spring.
In Macau, May 1st is known as Dia do Trabalhador.
In Maldives, May 1st has been a public holiday since 2011.
In Mali, May 1st is an official holiday known as Working Day.
In Malta, May 1st is an official holiday known as Worker's Day it has religious roots in that the day is also the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker.
In Mexico, May 1st is known as Día Del Trabajo.
In the Netherlands , May 1st is unofficially celebrated by small groups of anarchist and socialist groups, it is greatly overshadowed by Queen's Day on April 30th.
In Nepal, May 1st has been an official holiday since 2007, and unofficially observed since 1963.
In New Zealand, Labour Day in is celebrated on fourth Monday in October.
In Norway, May 1st is an official holiday known as Arbeidernes Dag.
In Pakistan, May 1st is an official holiday known as International Labour Day.
In Peru, May 1st is known as El Día Del Trabajo.
In the Philippines, May 1st is an official holiday known as Araw ng Manggagawa or Labour Day since 1913.
In Poland, May 1st is an official holiday known as State Holiday.
In Portugal, May 1st is an official holiday known as Worker's Day, it is one of the biggest celebrations in Portugal including the Primeiro de Maio Parade.
In Romania, May 1st is an official holiday known as International Workers' Day, International Labour Day, or the First of May.
In Russia, May 1st is an official holiday known as The Day of Spring and Labour.
In Serbia, May 1st is a major official holiday and is often continually celebrated into the religious holiday of Djurdjevdan on May 6th.
In Singapore, May 1st is an official holiday known as Labour Day.
In Slovenia, May 1st and May 2nd are offical holidays and the celebration usually starts on April 30th.
In South Africa, May 1st is an official holiday known as Workers' Day since 1994.
In Spain, May 1st is an official holiday known as International Workers' Day since 1977.
In Sweden, May 1st is an official holiday observed by socialist, liberal, and left political groups.
In Switzerland, May 1st is an official holiday known as Tag der Arbeit (Labor Day).
In Syria, May 1st is an official holiday known as Labour Day.
In Taiwan, May 1st is an official holiday known as Labour Day.
In Thailand, May 1st is an official holiday known as National Labour Day.
In Turkey, May 1st is an official holiday known as Work and Solidarity Day or Workers' Day.  The Modern celebration is mainly a commemoration of the Taksim square massacre and years of police and far-right brutality on this day.  The public is not allowed to congregate in Taksim Square but the crowd of over 500,000 grows every year.
In the United Kingdom, May Day celebrations occur on the first Monday of May.  It is offically organized by organised by the London May Day Organising Committee but many far left groups demonstrate and protest on the day.
In The United States, May 1st is often unofficially observed by trade unions (like the International Longshore and Warehouse Union), organized labor, and protest groups (like Occupy Wall Street).  Loyalty Day (formerly Americanization Day) is a national holiday celebrated by Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and other groups who oppose communism.  May 1st is also The Great American Boycott, in opposition to legislation effecting undocumented immigrant workers. The United States officially celebrates Labor Day on the first monday of September.
In Uruguay, May 1st is known as Worker's Day.
In Venezuela, May 1st is an official holiday known as El Día del Trabajador since 1936.
In Vietnam, May 1st is an official holiday known as International Labour Day.

Festivities on May Day

May Day is observed in...

In Cawsand, England; Kingsand, England; and Millbrook, England; the Flower Boat Ritual is held on May Day
In Cumbria, England, Ashtoria Day, a female bonding day, is celebrated on May Day.
In Durham, England, May Day is celebrated on the University of Durham with the Prebend's Bridge Festivities.
In Hastings, England, The Maydayrun moterbike motercade finishes after starting in London
In Oxford, England, May Day is celebrated with a May Morning Revellry at the Magdalen College Great Tower.
In Padstow, England, the Obby-Oss fertility festival is held on May Day
In Rochester, England, Sweeps Festival is held on May Day.
In Whitstable, England, the Jack in the Green Festival is celebrated on May Day
Other May Day celebrations in England are found in St. Andrews; St. Ives; Penzance; and London;

In Edinburgh, Scotland, the Beltane Fire Festival is held on May Day.
Other Beltane and May Day celebrations can be found in Glasgoow, Scotland
In Romania, "Arminden" or “Armindeni”, is the beginning of summer. It is a apotropaic and pagan holiday is celebrated on May Day. It is also called "Ziua Pelinului" (Mugwort Day) or "Ziua Bețivilor" (Drunkards’ Day) of “Ziua Boilor” (Oxen Day).

In Ireland the feast of Bealtaine (Celtic or Pagan roots) and Mary's Day (Roman Catholic roots) are celebrated on The first Monday of May.
In Arklow, Ireland, the Bealtaine bonfire festival is on the first Monday of May.

In France, May Day is a tax holiday and has a history of giving lily of the valley or dog rose flowers dating back to King Charles IX in 1561.

In Germany, Walpurgisnacht celebrations (Pagan origin) are traditionally held on the night before May Day. Labour Day is also a public holiday held on May Day.

In Czech Republic, May 1st is an official holiday known as Svatek Prace (May Day).
In Finaland, May Day is known as Vappu, a public carnival-style outdoors holiday and festival. It is celebrated with picnics and parades with colorful clothing, baloons and decorations. The celebration starts on May Day Eve, sometimes called Walpurgis Night, with the Crowning of Statues event.

In Sweden, Valborgsmässoafton or Walpurgis Night or Last of April is celebrated the day before May Day on April 30th.  May Day is celebrated with International Workers' Day.

In Canada May day is celebrated on the last Monday before May 25th in conjunction with Victoria Day. In New Westminster, Canada May Day has been celebrated annually since 1870. This is the longest continuous observation in the Brittish Commonwealth.
Vicoria Day is celebrated on...
May 20th, 2013
May 19th, 2014
May 18th, 2015 
May 23rd, 2016
May 22nd, 2017
May 21st, 2018 
May 20th, 2019
May 18th, 2020
May 24th, 2021