Labour Day in France is both a workers' holiday and a cultural celebration, combining trade union demonstrations with the joyful exchange of lily of the valley flowers.

When is Labour Day?

Labour Day in France is celebrated every year on May 1.

The following is the list of Labour Day from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Labour Day?

May 1 was traditionally a spring festival in Europe. In France, giving lily of the valley flowers (muguet) became popular in the 16th century after King Charles IX (1561) received some as a good luck charm and began offering them annually.

This floral tradition continued for centuries and later blended with workers' celebrations.

In the late 19th century, workers worldwide began pushing for better conditions, particularly the eight-hour workday. On May 1, 1886, a major strike movement began in the United States (notably in Chicago), which inspired labor movements in Europe, including France.

In France, May Day rallies first appeared in 1890, as workers marched with a red triangle symbolizing "work, rest, and leisure." Over time, the red carnation and later the lily of the valley became symbols.

In 1919, following large-scale demonstrations and labor struggles, the French Parliament voted for the eight-hour workday. May 1 was declared a holiday for workers, but it wasn't yet permanent.

In 1936, the Popular Front government, after massive labor strikes, granted paid holidays and reinforced May 1 as a day for workers.

In 1941 (under Vichy regime), Marshal Pétain made May 1 an official holiday called the Festival of Labour and Social Harmony.

In 1947, after World War II, the French government officially recognized May 1 as a public holiday, known as Fête du Travail.

May 1 in France began as a spring festival, became linked to international workers' movements in the 19th century, and was made a permanent public holiday in France in 1947.