Labor Day at La Providence

In the United States, May 1st used to mark the beginning of a new fiscal year for businesses, which often meant closing contracts with both clients and employees. Thus, between 1886 and 1888, numerous events and demonstrations occurred around this time of year, demanding an 8-hour workday instead of the usual 12 hours. Unfortunately, many of these gatherings led to violence.

In tribute to these events, the American Federation of Labor's Congress decided in 1888 to make May 1st a day of struggle for the reduction of the workday to 8 hours. This initiative was followed by workers and unions in other countries, especially in Europe, where the first May 1st celebration occurred in 1890. Since then, May 1st has become a day for workers to protest and advocate for their social and economic rights.

In 1889, while France was celebrating the 100th anniversary of the revolution, Jules Guesde proposed that May 1st should be a day of demonstrations. It was first celebrated in 1890, initiated by the Second International, a socialist labor union organization. In 1891, a demonstration in the town of Fourmies (in the North) was tragically marked by a shooting that killed about ten protestors.

Finally, the celebration of May 1st was legalized in France in 1948 under the government of General de Gaulle, who made it a public holiday through the law of April 29, 1948.

A special thought goes out to La Providence employees who work on May 1st in the hospitality industry.

After the Fourmies shooting, it became customary to wear a wild rose, the traditional flower of the North, during the May 1st parade to honor the victims of the tragedy. At the same time, street vendors began selling lilies of the valley to passersby in the streets of Paris to celebrate spring and nature’s renewal, which coincided with Labor Day. Eventually, lilies of the valley became the flower associated with May 1st throughout France. At La Providence, nearly 300 bouquets of lilies of the valley were given out in celebration.