May 1st, or La Fête du Travail, is more than just a public holiday in France—it’s a powerful day of national reflection, shaped by centuries of struggle, solidarity, and tradition. While many take the day to rest, others march in the streets, give flowers to loved ones, or join in debates about the future of work and society.
A Day of Protest with Deep Roots
May Day’s origins lie in the late 19th century, when labor movements around the world began pushing for the eight-hour workday. In France, the date gained momentum as a day of solidarity among workers, inspired in part by the 1886 Haymarket protests in Chicago. Although it wasn’t officially recognized as a public holiday until 1947, May 1st had long been a day of demonstrations and political action. Trade unions and workers across France have used this date to fight for fair wages, shorter hours, and better working conditions. Today, that spirit lives on through organized marches in cities across the country.
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A Political Barometer
May 1st often reflects France’s political tensions and priorities. While traditionally associated with the left and labor movements, the day has also been adopted by other political groups. Trade unions and civil groups use the day to protest current government reforms, including issues like pension restructuring and labor law changes. The diversity of participation—from students to retirees, public sector workers to grassroots activists—shows how central this date remains to public discourse in France.
The Lily of the Valley Tradition
Alongside the demonstrations, May 1st has a charming floral custom: the giving of muguet, or lily of the valley. This tradition dates back to 1561, when King Charles IX received a sprig of the flower and began gifting it to the ladies of his court each spring. Today, the practice continues as a symbol of good luck and happiness. However, it was Marshal Pétain who truly tied the little white flower to the celebrations of Labour Day in 1947 during the Vichy regime in occupied France. Across France, street vendors—many unlicensed for just this one day—sell small bunches of muguet, often tied with ribbon or presented in paper cones. It’s a quiet, fragrant counterpoint to the louder expressions of protest and solidarity happening nearby.
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A Nationwide Pause
May 1st is one of the few truly national holidays in France when nearly all businesses, public offices, and shops are closed. Trains run limited services, schools shut down, and workers from nearly every sector take the day off. But this is not a holiday for consumption or tourism. It’s a time for reflection—on rights hard-won, on progress made, and on challenges still ahead for workers and society.
Major Strikes Looming in May 2025
As France celebrated Labour Day this year, it also braced for significant disruptions in May due to planned strikes by doctors and rail workers. Doctors began striking on April 28, 2025, over a proposal that would limit newly-trained doctors regarding where they can open surgeries. This strike, labeled as 'unlimited,' means there is no official end date, and practitioners are closing their offices at their discretion. Urgent medical care is likely to remain unaffected, but standard and lower-level appointments may be harder to come by.
Rail Workers Set for Action
Rail workers are also set to strike, particularly from May 5 to May 11, 2025. Ticket inspectors began a strike in mid-April that is ongoing until June 2, although disruptions have been minimal so far. However, the SUD-Rail union has called for intensified strike action from May 7 to May 11, coinciding with the May 8 public holiday. Major unions have also called on drivers to strike on May 7 over work, pay, and retirement conditions. The combination of these strikes could lead to a 'black week' for rail travel, with significant cancellations expected.
Rallies Across France
On May 1, 2025, rallies across France for International Workers' Day drew more than 300,000 participants, including 100,000 in Paris. The rally in the capital was marred by complaints of violence towards center-left marchers, with the Socialist Party (PS) denouncing acts of physical aggression. Socialist deputy Jerome Guedj had to be escorted away from the procession after being targeted by anti-Semitic invective.
Despite the violence, the CGT union recorded 270 marches across the country, with several groups calling for demonstrations against the far right, for peace, liberty, and social justice. Murielle Guilbert of the Solidarity union expressed concerns about the 'Trumpification of the world,' highlighting the rising fears among workers regarding global political shifts.
Last May Day, the CGT counted 210,000 protesters in France, including 50,000 in Paris, while authorities estimated the turnout at 121,000. This year’s events underscore the ongoing tensions within France’s labor movement and the broader political landscape.
As France navigates these challenges, May 1st remains a meaningful symbol of the country’s commitment to labor rights and social justice. It’s a reminder that such rights were never simply granted—they were demanded, defended, and earned.
Quick Facts
- Official name: La Fête du Travail (Labour Day)
- Public holiday since: 1947
- Main traditions: Union marches, political protests, gifting lily of the valley
- Legal exception: Street vendors may sell muguet without a license on May 1st only
