News
1 May: what is celebrated today
1 May is a date loaded with meanings that coexist and speak to one another. A day on which work and rest, social struggle and empathy, health, spirituality and culture are interwoven in a single date. From the historic demands of workers to celebrations that speak of love, compassion, science and collective memory, this day invites us to look at the world from multiple perspectives.
International Workers' Day
May Day is, above all, an exercise in collective memory. It refers to the struggles of the labour movement to win fairer working conditions, shorten endless working days and establish rights that are now taken for granted, but which involved conflicts, mobilisations and irreparable losses. The Chicago uprising and its protagonists marked a turning point: work began to be understood not only as an obligation, but as an area that had to be protected.
More than a century later, the date remains relevant. In a context defined by automation, job insecurity and new forms of employment, International Workers' Day continues to raise a central question: how to guarantee decent conditions in a constantly changing landscape.
World Love Day
In contrast —and as a complement— 1 May also celebrates love as a transformative force. World Love Day proposes a less structural and more human perspective: love as a conscious attitude, as an everyday practice that runs through personal, community and social relationships.
This day invites us to remember that empathy, solidarity and mutual care are not abstract concepts, but concrete actions that can change the way we inhabit the world, even in contexts of conflict, inequality or pain.
Vesak Day
The spiritual dimension of 1 May is expressed in the celebration of Vesak, one of Buddhism's holiest dates. Coinciding with the May full moon, it commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha, bringing together life, awakening and transcendence in a single symbol.
Vesak offers a reflective pause amid everyday noise. It is a reminder of universal values such as compassion, moderation and impermanence, teachings that transcend religions and cultures, and which today engage with the need for a more conscious and peaceful world.
International Fanconi Anaemia Day
1 May is also a date to raise awareness of lesser-known realities, such as Fanconi Anaemia, a rare disease of genetic origin. This day seeks to give patients and families a voice, promote scientific research and reinforce the value of early diagnosis.
Beyond the medical data, the commemoration focuses on resilience and on the importance of inclusive health systems, capable of caring even for those who represent a statistical minority.
World Lyme Disease Day
Health again takes centre stage with World Lyme Disease Day. A day dedicated to prevention, information and recognition of a condition that often goes unnoticed in its early stages.
In a context of increasing contact between people and natural environments, this observance reminds us that health education and early care are key tools for avoiding complications and improving quality of life.
International Tuba Day
Culture also has its place on 1 May with International Tuba Day. A tribute to an essential instrument in orchestras, although often invisible to the general public.
This celebration champions those who sustain harmony from the back of the stage and reminds us that music is collective work, in which every sound —however discreet it may seem— is indispensable.