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MayDay

Number 11 - May 2006
Sarah Dixon

May DayMayday is an emergency code word used internationally as a distress signal in voice procedure communications, derived from the French m'aider. It is used to signal a life-threatening emergency by many groups, such as police forces, pilots, the fire brigade, and transportation organizations. The call given three times (mayday, mayday, mayday...) in a row indicates significant danger (for example, a threat to life).


May Day is also a name for various holidays celebrated on May 1 (or in the beginning of May.) Today, May Day is best known as an international holiday celebrating labor and workers, and is often associated with socialism and Communism, although May Day came to be famous for remembrance for the anarchist Haymarket martyrs. May Day is an official government labor holiday in many countries. As an international celebration of labor, May Day is an especially important holiday in Communist countries such as the People's Republic of China.

May 1st was a traditional pagan holiday in much of pre-Christian Europe, including the celebrations of Beltane in Celtic countries and Walpurgis Night in Germanic countries. These holidays were springtime seasonal holidays and not related to labor or work.

Information courtesy Wikipedia.org

 
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