May 1 is an official public holiday in 66 countries, including most of Europe. Other than a couple of faith-based holidays and the start of the new year, there’s hardly a holiday that spans so many nations. With its roots in ancient agrarian celebrations of spring, the official public holiday on May 1 is International Workers Day, celebrating the extraordinary contributions of workers and the working class. In countries where it’s an official day off, and 100 other nations, it is often commemorated with marches, protests, or strikes.

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Millions of workers worldwide marked international labor day on Friday trapped between hunger and fear — struggling without jobs or worried they don’t have enough protections against the coronavirus as more countries and states reopen for business.

May Day, or May 1, is also known as International Workers Day on which laborers and the labor movement around the world are celebrated.

Despite the global recognition of the holiday, the celebration began after peaceful protests became violent in the United States, where it has less meaning today.

During the 1880s, working conditions were dangerous, but workers were paid little, so industrial workers’ strikes were becoming more and more common, according to History.com.