| Labor Day/May Day - Wednesday May 1, 2019 Secular holiday : Chicago, Saturday May 1st, 1886: 350,000 workers go on strike to call for an 8-hour working day. Industries are paralyzed nationwide. On Monday, as demonstrations go on, the police open fire. On Tuesday, Chicago is again on strike. Following a bomb launched against them, the police shoot again. 12 dead, of which 7 policemen. 8 anarchists will be condemned and executed. In 1889, the Socialist International Movement met in Paris and declared this day international workers' day . The Soviets will follow suit, just as the Nazis. In France, under the Vichy regime (1940-1944), the celebration is renamed Labour Day .
|
| Regional holiday - Wednesday May 1, 2019 Secular holiday : Http://fetedeliris.brussels/ in Brussels only - lasts 4 days 2019 edition confirmed
|
| Mother's Day - Sunday May 12, 2019 cards/flowers : Probably linked with a celebration in England in the 1600s ( Mothering Sunday ). Honored all mothers in England. Mothering Sunday gave poor servants who lived and worked for the wealthy a day off to actually go home and dedicate time to their mothers. Mothering Cake , a special cake, was common for the celebration.
|
| Parliamentary election - Sunday May 26, 2019 Special Events :
|
| Ascension holiday - Hemelvaart (beginning) - Wednesday May 29, 2019 School holidays : some schools may work on Friday
|
| Ascension - Thursday May 30, 2019 Catholic or protestant : Forty days after Easter, always on a Thursday. After his resurrection, Jesus appeared before his disciples and gathered them to tell them to baptize and spread the good word. He then ascended to heaven on a cloud.
|
| Bruges Holy Blood procession - Thursday May 30, 2019 Culture : Sanguis Christi
|
| Banks are closed - Friday May 31, 2019 Banks only :
|
