The Haymarket episode happened in Chicago in the year of eighteen hundred and eighty six is commemorated on the International Worker's Day. It is connected with the worker's struggle to establish the right of eight hour workday. On that day, police was venturing to ward away a public assembly which gathered in connection with a general strike demanding eight hour workday and a bomb was thrown at them by an unidentified person. The police reaction was a firing. It killed dozens of demonstrators and some police officers. It was testified and proved that there was no firing from the side of demonstrators.
The first congress of the Second Communist International met in Paris to mark the hundredth year of the French Revolution and the Exposition Universelle, in the year of eighteen hundred and eighty nine. The congress called upon to conduct demonstrations internationally on the anniversary of the protests of Chicago of eighteen hundred and ninety. It was Raymond Lavigne who made the proposal. In eighteen hundred and ninety one, the second congress of Communist International adopted formally the celebration of May Day as an annual event.
Rosa Luxemborg testifies that the idea of utilising a proletarian holiday celebration as a means to achieve the eight hour day had its origins in Australia. It was the International Socialist Conference meeting convened in Amsterdam in the year nineteen hundred and four which by its call to all Social Democratic Party organisations and trade unions working in all countries to "demonstrate energetically" on May First putting forth the demand of legal establishment of eight hour day with other demands of proletariat and for universal peace. The congress also made it compulsory for proletariat organisations of all countries to stop work on May First. They added the caveat of avoiding injury to the workers.
Due to sustained efforts of working classes, in many countries May Day is declared as an official holiday. May Day has long been a prominent day in which different socialist, communist and anarchist groups conduct demonstrations. In countries such as People's Republic of China, North Korea, Cuba and former Soviet Union May Day is given the status of a prominent official holiday. Elaborate parades, both popular and military, mark the May Day celebrations in these countries.
Catholic Church has also not lagged behind in the efforts to show concern for working class. In nineteen hundred and fifty five, they dedicated the day to "Saint Joseph The Worker", who is considered by Church as the patron saint for the toiling.
In nineteen hundred and twenty three the first May Day celebration was organised in India. The location was Madras and the organiser was the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan.