More than a few countries celebrate their own versions of Labor Day.
In Jamaica, however, the day now meant to praise workers was once a day for honoring Queen Victoria, who emancipated the Jamaican slaves while ruling the British Empire. It was only in 1961 that Jamaican Chief Minister Norman Washington Manley suggested replacing 'Empire Day' with Labor Day, and only in 1971 that Jamaica created a program of "voluntary community participation" to showcase the importance of labor. The tradition has been repeated on May 23 ever since.
In New Zealand, Labor Day (also called 'Eight-Hour Demonstration Day') celebrates carpenter Samuel Parnell's demand for an eight-hour working day, which he managed to receive through perseverance in 1840. Though the holiday wasn’t recognized nationally until 1890, Parnell was still well enough to make a short public appearance in Wellington, where he thanked all involved. New Zealand’s Labor Day occurs on Oct. 28.
Other countries with stories of their own are Australia, Canada, The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and Syria.
