Dates in May

1 May, Labour Day is an annual holiday which celebrates the economic and social achievements of workers. Labour Day has its origins in the labour union movement, in the Industrial Revolution in Britain, specifically the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest. The eight-hour day movement (the goal of Welsh social reformer Robert Owen) forms part of the early history for the celebration of Labour Day and May Day in many nations and cultures.

Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) commemorates 8 May 1945 (or in commonwealth countries 7 May 1945), the date when the World War II allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany, so bringing an end to Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich. The formal surrender of the occupying German forces in the Channel Islands was not until 9 May 1945. Hitler had committed suicide on 30 April during the Battle of Berlin, so the surrender of Germany was authorized by his replacement, Karl Donitz, President of Germany. This administration (headed by Dönitz) was known as the Flensburg government. The act of “military surrender” was signed at General Dwight Eisenhower’s Headquarters on 7 May in Reims, France, and ratified on 8 May in Berlin, Germany.

In the UK VE Day was marked by street parties across Britain. More than one million people celebrated in the streets to mark the end of the war in Europe. In London, crowds massed in Trafalgar Square and up The Mall to Buckingham Palace where King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by Prime Minister Winston Churchill, appeared on the balcony of the Palace before the cheering crowds. The two princesses, Margaret and Elizabeth (now Queen Elizabeth II) were allowed to mingle with the crowds taking part in the celebrations. Churchill gave an impromptu speech on the balcony of the Ministry of Health, telling the crowds, “This is your victory.”

In the USA, President Harry S Truman, who turned 61 that day, dedicated the victory in memory of his predecessor, Franklin D Roosevelt, who had died of a cerebral haemorrhage on the 12 April, less than one month earlier.  Flags remained at half mast for the remainder of the 30 day mourning period. Truman said that his only wish was "that Franklin D Roosevelt had lived to witness this day." Massive celebrations also took place in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and especially in New York City’s Times Square. In Canada victory celebrations were unfortunately marred by the Halifax Riot.

28 May 2011 Spring Bank Holiday The spring bank holiday started out as the Monday after Pentecost and was previously known as Whitsun or Whit Monday in the UK. In 1971, the Banking and Financial Dealings Act moved this bank holiday to the last Monday in May, following a trial period of this arrangement from 1965 to 1970.