Labour Day in Russia honors the achievements and solidarity of workers. Once a major Soviet holiday known for parades and political slogans, it is now a public holiday for rest, picnics, and community celebrations, symbolizing spring, renewal and unity.

When is Labour Day?

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

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

The History of Labour Day?

The roots of Labour Day trace back to the international workers' movement of the late 19th century, which fought for fair working conditions and the eight-hour workday. The key turning point came in Chicago, USA, in May 1886, when workers organized mass strikes demanding "eight hours for work, eight hours for rest, and eight hours for what we will".

The protest led to the Haymarket Affair, where violence between demonstrators and police caused several deaths. In 1889, the Second International declared May 1 as International Workers' Day, to honor those who had died in the struggle for workers' rights and to promote global labor solidarity.

Russia was among the first European countries to embrace May 1 as a day of protest and solidarity. The first Labour Day demonstration in Russia took place in St. Petersburg in 1891, organized secretly by Marxist workers and socialists.

After the 1917 October Revolution, which brought the Bolsheviks to power, May 1 was declared an official public holiday "Day of International Workers' Solidarity". The new Soviet government viewed Labour Day as a symbol of socialist victory and unity among workers worldwide.

The first official May Day parade in Moscow's Red Square took place in 1918, featuring banners proclaiming "Peace, Labor, and May". Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, May 1 became one of the most important state holidays in the USSR, second only to the anniversary of the October Revolution (November 7).

Under the Soviet Union, Labour Day evolved from a workers' protest into a grand state celebration of socialist progress. For many, however, May 1 was also a day of community and joy, a spring holiday that blended patriotism with the celebration of nature's renewal.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the new Russian Federation sought to redefine many state holidays. The political symbolism of May 1 diminished, but its popularity as a holiday of rest and leisure endured. In 1992, it was officially renamed "Spring and Labour Day" to reflect a more neutral, seasonal meaning.

Today, May 1 remains one of Russia's most celebrated public holidays, marking the arrival of spring and honoring the dignity of work. For most Russians, it is a holiday of rest, friendship, and optimism — a continuation of tradition without the political weight of the past.