LABOR DAY AND LILLY OF THE VALLEY

In France on October 24, 1793 Fabre d’Eglantine proposes a Labor Day in front of the Convention for January 20 or 31. It is only in 1848 that the French Constitution establishes a Labor Day on March 4, to commemorate abolishment of slavery in the colonies.

In Chicago, on May 4, 1886, more than 340 000 workers on strike require the eight-hour work day. Riots took place and many persons died. This is known as the Haymarket affair.

In the North of France, in 1891 after demonstrations, the Brussels International Socialist Congress gives the 1st of May its yearly and international turn. It is then celebrated each year from 1892. Later violent demonstrations took place in France in 1906 for the eight-hour work day. The lilly of the valley appears the following year in the processions organized to celebrate this day. In 1936, bunches of lilly of the valley are sold for the occasion with a red ribbon. Immediately after WWII, the 1st of May is reinstated and becomes a paid public holiday in 1947. This day is now common in most countries. In the United States, Labor Day is on the first Monday of September like in Canada. It was created in 1882.

Apollo is said to have carpeted the Mount Parnassus, home of the muses, with lilly of the valley. It is also Finland’s national flower since 1982.

This scented flower is traditionally offered on that date in France, Belgium and Switzerland.

1st of May by Franz Xaver Winterhalter (1851).

Image source: http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fichier:1_of_May,_1851.jpg

Lilly of the valley (convalaria majalis).

Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Convallaria_majalis_l.jpgonvalaria majalis).

Image source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Maigloeckchen_4.jpg

Image source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bukiet-konwalii.jpg