Germany: What is Mayday for? (home, live, bars)

[Azurise]

Guten Morgen! I'm trying to teach myself German, part of it includes learning about current events and culture. I was reading (Or rather, translating) the Berliner Morgenpost, and they have a post being updated almost minute by minute.

Here is the article:
http://tinyurl.com/c67z4o

What is the significance of May 1st?
Why are there people gathering and "Counter gathering" ?
What do you do on this day?

Thanks in advance for any and all responses!

[Douglas Dakota]

Hi,

As the first may is a kind of "Labour day", it is used by unions to demonstrate for better work conditions, etc, and unfortunately by some other extremist groups use for their demonstrations and propaganda. Some of the anti-capitalism groups, socialists etc. throw stones to the police and try to destroy as much as they can. Because this leads to a large public interest, also the far right wing NPD starts some rumour to get some attention.
So we have militant far left and fare right people on the streets, and the police in between... not a very nice day for police officers.

Here are some articles from wikipedia:
Erster Mai – Wikipedia
Erster Mai in Kreuzberg – Wikipedia

What I do? Well - as I live far away from Berlin, I enjoy my holiday.

[effie g-tad]

hey all, nice meeting you here!

i would have given you the same links to read.

the big parades are big city events since there you find organisations like the unions or political support groups (usually left of centre) will gather members and interests.

in the rural areas the day is for the young folk celebrating old custom and having fun with music and dance around the maypole.

if a guy likes a girl, he and his friends will get a birch tree and place it at her front porch / door.
girls found less adorable may have experienced the disgrace of finding a broom there, occasionally.

quite often, too much alcohol is involved though, imho.

most people, however, will spend a holiday weekend taking it easy and enjoying outdoor activities.

[Douglas Dakota]

quite often, too much alcohol is involved though, imho.

Yes, thats the same in Karneval, Schützenfests or the Oktoberfest. Some people think they can't have fun without alcohol...

My sister also got a birch tree in front of our porch

[effie g-tad]

where? in the dakotas?

today?

[Douglas Dakota]

Today and here in Germany, between Duesseldorf and Cologne

Douglas Dakota is only a nickname, I have chosen because of the aircraft Douglas C-47 Skytrain (also called Dakota), which was very important in the Berlin Airlift.

[effie g-tad]

Originally Posted by Douglas Dakota

Today and here in Germany, between Duesseldorf and Cologne

Douglas Dakota is only a nickname, I have chosen because of the aircraft Douglas C-47 Skytrain (also called Dakota), which was very important in the Berlin Airlift.

before others join in here, this reminds me of that famous commercial,

"come in and find out..."

[Visvaldis]

I lived over 18 years in Germany (Steinau an der Strasse, Siegen, and Frankfurt/Main). May was always my favorite month; the days became warm, flowers everywhere, and May has the most holidays - May Day, Pfingsten, and one more I've forgotten (Himmelfahrt, maybe?)
This year May Day falls on a Friday - so 3 day weekend!
The change from April to May is known as "Tanz in den Mai" (Dance into May). The bars stay open longer than usual.
Most people I knew didn't care much for the festivities. But it means on Thursday they can stay out late, get bombed and sleep off the hangover into Friday afternoon. Then, depending on the weather, they go for weekend trips, hike in the woods, go boating, participate in sports, visit friends or family, or just stay home and relax. Like listening to your favorite CDs from Die Toten Hosen, Black Foos, Rodgau Monotones, Heino, Marianne Rosenberg, Jurgen Drews, and a few others.

[effie g-tad]

Himmelfahrt, yes, (Ascension Day + Father's day, and you guess it, plenty drinking!), 10 days before Pentecost (also a double holiday), and 10 days after that Fronleichnam (Corpus Christy).

clever folks plan their vacations around this time.

lord have mercy on the music you wanna hear ....!!!!

want to share your favortites, too? here's one of mine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Htk2E...eature=related

[pirate_lafitte]

I just found this out about May Day. It is also the feast day of the patron saint of the worker, St. Joseph. May Day is a worker's holiday.