May First, Bank Holiday & Lily in the Valley
Have you ever tried to contact any private or public company in France on May 1st? You may know then, that it is impossible. Indeed, May 1st is a bank holiday, and probably one of the most important ones, as it is not linked to a religious event, but to the French History.
It all started in 1889: during the fight for 8 hour-working days, a socialist congress proposed to make 1st of May a symbol of protest for this cause. The date of May 1st was chosen in the memory of the North-American May 1st 1886, when syndicates gathered 400,000 workers to demonstrate for the same request.
In 1919, the French Senate agrees to set working days to 8 hours, and decides that no one will work in France on May 1st from now.
Then in 1941, during the Second World War, May 1st is declared “Labour and Social Reconciliation Day”, and no one is therefore allowed to work this day! May 1st has since become a bank holiday. However the name “Fete du Travail” (Labour Day) was only officialised in 1948, and since then, no one works on this day.
Therefore, in May 1st in France, 99% of the activity is stopped, yet some exceptions are made for health and public services. If a shop wants to open, its owner needs to ask their employees if they agree to work. May 1st has also become the international day of workers demands and numerous demonstrations take place on this day. In addition, May 1st is not just a bank holiday. It is also “lily in the valley’s day”: since the beginning of the 20th century, it has become common to offer a sprig of lily in the valley to friends and family. A tradition from the Middle Age, officialised by King Charles IX in 1561: it was said that lilies in the valley bring good luck, and symbolize the spring season (indeed, its flowering starts in May).
Nowadays, the tax authorities allow workers associations and particulars to sell some lily in the valley’s sprigs with no procedures or taxes, as long as the flower comes from a garden and woods. Then if you are in France during May 1st, don’t be surprised to see people – even children – on the street selling lilies in the valley, it is a very much appreciated tradition!