The 1st of May in France, explained to my children

01 May, 2026

1st May in France is not a day like any other. It is not a day when Dad simply doesn’t work. Nor is it a day when we give each other flowers. It is a day when we should simply remember that the way people work matters, and that work is not a universal value. The first time May Day was commemorated was in 1886 in the United States of America. On that day, many workers gathered to demand an eight-hour working day from their employers. In fact, many families believed that a day should be divided into three parts: eight hours of rest, eight hours of work and eight hours of leisure. At the time, people sometimes worked nearly 12 hours a day.

In 1886, many achieved their goals. Others, however, had to go on strike. This led to violent demonstrations in Chicago, during which a bomb exploded amongst the police, causing many deaths. A few workers identified as anarchists—five, to be precise—were tried and sentenced to death despite the lack of clear evidence. At the same time, in France, a worker was working more than ten hours a day. A decree did attempt to reduce working hours to 48 hours a week, but employers opposed it so strongly that the decree was only enforced for a few months.

The first day of May in France, ensures we do not forget

In 1889, following a proposal by Raymond Lavigne, men gathered at a congress, that of the Second International, decided that ‘a major demonstration should be organised on a fixed date so that in all countries and in all towns simultaneously, on the agreed day, workers would call upon the authorities to legally reduce the working day to eight hours and to implement the other resolutions of the congress. ’ They chose 1 May, as similar demonstrations were already taking place in some places. On 1 May 1891, in Fourmies, a small town in northern France, the customary demonstration turned into a tragedy. Troops armed with the new Lebel and Chassepot rifles fired point-blank into the peaceful crowd of workers. Ten people were killed, eight of whom were under the age of 21, including three children.

This tragedy cemented 1 May as an important holiday throughout Europe. In Germany, during the Nazi era, Hitler, in order to win over the workers, decided that this day would be a paid public holiday. France followed suit in 1941 under German occupation. However, the intention was also to rally the workers to the Vichy regime. In April 1947, the measure was reinstated by the post-Liberation government, which made 1 May a paid public holiday… though not a statutory holiday. Thus, 1 May is still not officially designated as Labour Day. Ultimately, it is a custom ¹

The eight-hour day, or 48 hours per week, was enshrined in law in 1919. In 1936, the 40-hour week was introduced. In 1982, under Mitterrand, the 39-hour week was declared the legal working week. Then, in 1998, it became the 35-hour week. Contrary to the alarmist predictions of some economists, this contributed to an improvement in quality of life, without harming work.

That is why it is worth asking ourselves a few questions about our way of life today. Why do we work? Why should we not let a few people decide for everyone else? Why should we not forget our history? Why, too, should we not always give in to old habits, such as ravaging our woodlands of all their lily of the valley to go and sell it on the high street?

Finally, bear in mind that if you can pick this lily of the valley, it is precisely because it is a public holiday. In that order, and not the other way round. It is by asking yourselves these questions and many others that you will know, my children, how to shape your future lives, without regrets and with freedom of choice.

#politic #society #thoughts