Labor Day (Labor Day)

Spring Festival or HidrellezIscı Bayramı was celebrated on 1 May for the first time in 1911 in the Ottoman Empire. Workers at a cigarette factory in the town of Salanique (now in Greece called Thessaloniki) have declared a six-day strike. On May 1, 1912, mass demonstrations took place in Istanbul.

In 1923, the Republic of Turkey officially celebrated Workers’ Day. However, in 1925, Kemal Atatürk banned mass demonstrations of workers, which effectively meant the cancellation of the celebration. After 10 years in 1935, the state again allowed the celebration of May 1, but under a different, more "peaceful" name "Bahar be cıcek bayramı" - "Feast of Spring and Flowers". This day was declared non-working, but the workers were not paid for it.

On May 1, 1976, for the first time in many years, unionists gathered again in Istanbul’s main Taksim square, where a major demonstration took place. In 1977, the number of protesters was already 500,000. This day was later recorded in history as “Bloody 1 May”, because the opposition (and maybe secret agents of the government – not exactly defined) was a provocation – unknown opened fire in the square, during which 34 people died.

In 1979, the holiday was abolished by Military Law, but the demonstration took place. This time, Taksim gathered 100,000 people. In 1981, the holiday was abolished, and workers were protesting illegally.

In 1996, the government issued a decree banning gatherings in Taksim Square. Then the demonstration continued in Kadykei, it was attended by at least 150,000 people. Police shots dispersed the protesters – 3 people died.

In 2001, on May 1, a meeting was again held in Kadykey Square, which again ended in disrepair - protesters beat a secret police agent to death.
In 2006, workers, despite the ban, gathered at Kadykey Square and marched to Rihtim Street. Surprisingly, everything went smoothly.

In 2007, the government was not allowed to hold a demonstration in Taksim Square. Protesters violated the ban and clashes again left more than 100 people injured and one death.

In April 2008, the government made a long-awaited concession to workers' union leaders and allowed the May 1 celebration to be called "Solidarity Day and Labor Day." However, meetings in Taksim Square have not yet been allowed.

According to a long-standing tradition, workers’ unions perform a march written by the Turkish poet Sarper Ozsan at each demonstration.

Much more fun and very peaceful is the spring rural holiday Hidrellez - Meeting of Spring. It is celebrated on May 5-6.