Around the world the 1st May is celebrated as annual festival of worker’s rights and solidarity.
The theme of Edinburgh and Lothians May Day 2021 is ‘The People’s Recovery’.
Originally May 1st was a pagan celebration of the return of summer. In the nineteenth century as the industrial revolution spread around the world, men women and children endured very long working days, often twelve hours or more. The idea of having a workers’ holiday celebration was born in Australia. mayday2021
In 1856 Australian workers organised a day of complete stoppage of work together with speeches and entertainment as a demonstration in favour of an eight-hour working day.
In 2021 we are fighting for social justice in the midst of the pandemic and in the teeth of a climate crisis that presents a threat to all our futures. A people’s recovery would mean an end the ravages of austerity, a new sustainable economy that puts people and planet before profit and secure homes, jobs and health. In Edinburgh, one of the richest cities in the world many people have none of these.
Edinburgh and Lothians May Day 