The 2010 Mayday Festival was a huge success! Thanks to all who attended, participated, volunteered and cranked tunes that day. All of you made the festival happen in a big way. Here you’ll find some of the media and coverage collected from that day. If you have anything you think should be added to this page, please contact me (peter dot rogers at gmail dot com) and we’ll figure it out.
From the May issue of Mayday Magazine (#61):
Mayday is a holiday that stretches back to the earliest times, when rites of fertility and renewal were performed in European pagan cultures. May 1st marked the beginning of summer, and the return of earth’s bounty. Traditions included dancing around the Maypole and crowning the May Queen, who represented the Earth Goddess reborn. With the advent of Christianity, Mayday became associated with the Virgin Mary.
From it’s pagan roots, Mayday symbolizes the rebirth of hope and the possibility of change. The divine feminine and the power and beauty of the natural world are honored, and our connection to the earth is renewed.
May 1st is also a worldwide worker’s holiday commemorating the Haymarket Martyrs. The Haymarket affair occurred during the course of a three-day general strike in Chicago in support of the eight hour work day. After police killed four striking workers, a protest rally was called for the next day at Haymarket Square.
Some photos from that day:
(see the complete photo gallery)
Some photos from the Steelworkers March (featuring Mr. Moneybags):
(see the complete photo gallery)
Some festival coverage from the interwebs:
- Youtube: Local 1005
- Youtube: Rackula [1, 2, 3]
- Youtube: Steve Sinnicks [1, 2, 3, 4]
- Youtube: Labor speech
- Hamilton Spectator: Union Workers United
