May 2008
May Day
May 1 is a public holiday in Germany. Often called
“
Tag der Arbeit” (Labor Day), this holiday celebrates the German and international workers movement. The roots of May Day celebrations, however, date back to pre-Christian times, when the beginning of the warm season was welcomed with festivities. The first day of May is also the traditional date for putting up maypoles in Bavaria. This year, the Catholic holiday
Christi Himmelfahrt (Ascension Day) will also be celebrated on May 1—a coincidence that will not occur again until 2160. Since 1989, the city of Munich and the German Federation of Trade Unions have jointly organized a cultural festival, taking place on Marienplatz. This year, there will be dance, music, folklore and children’s theater performances throughout the day. For a detailed schedule of events, see
www.dgb-muenchen.de. <<<
