Did you know that May 1st is a state holiday in France? Though it is “May Day” in the US, a seldom reflected upon holiday where school children dance around maypoles, it originated as a springtime festival during ancient polytheistic times to celebrate the season of growth and fertility.

However, in European countries the beginning of May has morphed into an important holiday to honor socialism and Marxist ideals. The day is called International Worker’s Day (Labor Day) and actually stems from the Haymarket riots in Chicago in 1886. In the US and Canada, Labor day has been kept on September 1st, as to separate it from the May 1st Labor Day which is a major holiday in socialist countries.

Actually, it does seem slightly ironic to celebrate this socioeconomic system during a season of growth and fertility… (read: lack of economic growth and job creation)