Celebrating May Day Around the World
Depending on where you live - or travel to today - you'll find May 1st an important day
Maybe it's a harbinger of spring, a reminder to people around the world that spring is our second chance. Another opportunity to try it all over again and see if we can get it right this time.
If you're in the US, it's the National Day of Prayer and the National Day of Reason. But in Chattanooga, it's also Loyalty Day and Law Day. It's Beltane for the Celts and National Love Day in the Czech Republic. What day is it where you are?
National Day of PrayerNational Day of Prayer: Created by President Harry Truman in 1952, it is traditionally held on the first Thursday of May, "inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation." Today marks the 57 celebration. For more information on celebrations around the US, visit National Day of Prayer online.
International Worker's Day: In many countries, such as Germany, Russia, and Cuba, it's a day to call for economic equality for workers. In Istanbul, crowds were met with police batons and a water cannon. Not exactly sunshine and roses. Los Angeles is bracing itself for more 100,000 expected marchers to fill the streets.
Holocaust Remembrance Day: A day of remembrance in many, many countries. Israel's prime minister said in a speech this morning, "Today the 60-year-old State of Israel promises the millions of Jews who disappeared into the eternal silence that we will forever uphold the memory of the events of the Holocaust."
May Day: Traditional English May Days include crowning a May Queen and dancing around a Maypole to celebrate springtime fertility.
If you're not attending a march and don't plan to participate in prayer, my advice is to take off work early, grab some of your favorite food, friends and adult libations and head to the nearest park for your own celebration - love, rememberance or otherwise.
After all, it is spring and I can't think of a better excuse to escape the office, except maybe a Caribbean cruise, which we all know isn't going to happen anytime soon.....
Happy May Day!
Comments
Post new comment