The date of first of May  was chosen by a pan-national organization of socialist and communist political parties to commemorate the Haymarket affair, which occurred in Chicago on 4 May 1886.The 1904  Sixth Conference of the Second International, called on "all Social Democratic Party organisations and trade unions of all countries to demonstrate energetically on the First of May for the legal establishment of the * hour day, for the class demands of the proletariat, and for universal day."

The first of May is a national publich in many countries worldwide, in most cases as "Labour Day", "International Workers' Day" or some similar name – although some countries celebrate a Labour Day on other dates significant to them, such as the United States, which celebrates Labour Day on the first Monday of September.

At the bottom of the page you will find a list of exciting series of events and film showings celebrating and commemorating Italians and labor in New York.