Labour Day celebrations start with bonfires around the country
Ljubljana, 30 April - Bonfires will be traditionally lit around the country on the eve of Labour Day on Sunday evening, with one of the largest crowds expected at Ljubljana's Rožnik hill, where representatives of four major trade union confederations will address workers.
Ljubljana
Rožnik hill bonfire on Labour Day.
Photo: Anže Malovrh/STA
The traditional gathering at Rožnik, where a bonfire will be lit at 10 PM, is organised by the ZSSS, Pergam, Neodvisnost and KSJS trade union confederations, whose leaders will address the crowd.
For the first time this year, a march on the Rožnik hill will also be organised on the eve of Labour Day as part of the campaign of the European Trade Union Confederation for higher wages.
Bonfires will also be organised by local associations and organisations in Maribor, Ptuj, Murska Sobota, Nova Gorica, Kamnik, Ajdovščina, Zagorje ob Savi, Celje, Velenje, Ruše, Lendava, Koper and Kranj.
The celebrations will continue on Labour Day with organised hikes and other events, with Mayor of Ljubljana Zoran Janković addressing an event in the capital and giving red carnations to the passers-by.
The traditional Labour Day gathering on the Jošt hill near Kranj is expected to be addressed by President Borut Pahor, while the event in Šentjernej will see European Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc address the crowd.
The date chosen for Labour Day on 1 May commemorates the demonstrations in Chicago, the US, in 1886 in which workers demanded an eight-hour working day.