May 1

Holidays

• Saint James the Less.
• Saint Sigismund of Burgundy.
• Saint Florine
• Saint Augustin Schoeffer
• Saint Theodulf.
• Saint Andeol.
• Czech Republic - "National Love Day" ? couples tend to flock to the memorial of the poet Karel Hynek M�cha in Prague and kiss.
• Festival of Matsu in Taiwan and various locales along the southern coast of China (2005).
• Malta - L-Ewwel ta Mejju, Malta, Jum il-haddiem (Worker's Day).
• United States - Law Day, U.S.A., Loyalty Day.
• Roman Empire - fourth and last day of the Floralia in honour of Flora.
• Roman Empire - all-female festival in honour of Bona Dea.
• Saint Joseph the Worker (also known as Saint Joseph's Day).
• Maharashtra Divas (Maharashtra Day) in the state of Maharastra, India. On May 1, 1960, Maharashtra came into existence when Bombay State was split into the new linguistic states of Maharashtra and Gujarat.
• Beltane, L� Bealtaine, the first day of Summer in modern Ireland was celebrated by the Celts, and is now also celebrated by Neopagans and Wiccans.
• May crowning - Unofficial ritual ceremony usually happening in the Roman Catholic Church.
• Lei Day - Hawaiian holiday for the Lei.
• Saint Jeremiah.
• May Day, Labour Day, Workers' Day, Day of the International Solidarity of Workers.
• Italy - national holiday (Giorno dei Lavoratori).
• Switzerland - official feast of Spring.
• Saint Philip the Apostle.
• Saint Brieuc.
• Saint Evermaar of Rutten (died 700)
• Northern Europe - Walpurgis Night.
• See more

Events

• 2019 Naxalite–Maoist insurgency: Sixteen soldiers, including a driver, are killed in a landmine explosion in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra, India. Maoist insurgents are currently active in the area, leading officials to believe them to be responsible. (CNN)
• 2018 Human rights violations during the Syrian Civil War: ISIL releases an execution video showing a prisoner being killed by explosives in Yarmouk Camp, Damascus. (Metro)
• 2017 Workers' Party of Belgium representative Raoul Hedebouw gets stabbed in the thigh, moments before holding a speech in Liège, Belgium. The presumed assailant is arrested. (Sudinfo)
• 2016 Turkey–ISIL conflict, Spillover of the Syrian Civil War: 2016 Gaziantep bombing: A blast hits a police station in the southern Turkish city of Gaziantep leaving one officer dead and 13 injured. (BBC) (CNN)Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant is suspected to be behind attack. (Reuters)
• 2015 Mexican Drug War: Three Mexican Army soldiers die as gunfire downs a helicopter in the state of Jalisco. Ten soldiers and two Federal Police officers are injured. (AP via ABC News America)A PRI/PVEM mayoral candidate in the city of Chilapa de Álvarez, Guerrero, is assassinated. (AP via Washington Post)
• 2014 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine:: Pro-Russian militants seize the regional prosecutor's office in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk. (BBC)Ukraine announces that it is reintroducing conscription. (Daily Mail)
• 2013 South Thailand insurgency:: Insurgents kill six people, including a two-year-old boy, in a deadly shooting in Pattani, Thailand. (ABC News)
• 2012 Syrian uprising: The United Nations says both government and opposition forces have violated the ceasefire. (Al Jazeera)
• 2011 Pope John Paul II is beatified.
• 2010 Part of New York City's Times Square is evacuated and sealed off as a car bomb is discovered and deactivated before it could be detonated. (ABC News) (BBC) (Philippine Daily Inquirer) (Sydney Morning Herald)
• 2009 Same-sex marriage is legalized in Sweden.
• 2008 A US navy ship off the coast of Somalia makes a missile attack on the home of Aden Hashi Ayro in Dusamareb, killing him and at least ten other people. Ayro was military leader of al-Shabab, in control of most of Somalia.
• 2007 the Los Angeles May Day melee occurs, in which the Los Angeles Police Department's response to a May Day pro-immigration rally become a matter of controversy.
• 2006 The Great American Boycott takes place across the United States as marchers protest for immigration rights.
• 2005 Lenovo Group, the largest Chinese computer company acquires the personal computer business of IBM for US$ 1.25 billion in cash, and Lenovo assumes $500 million of IBM's debt. (Reuters)
• 2004 Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia join the European Union, celebrated at the residence of the Irish President in Dublin.
• 2003 2003 invasion of Iraq: In what becomes known as the ''Mission Accomplished'' speech, on board the USS Abraham Lincoln (off the coast of California), U.S. President George W. Bush declares that ''major combat operations in Iraq have ended''.
• 2001 Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declares the existence of ''a state of rebellion'', hours after thousands of supporters of her arrested predecessor, Joseph Estrada, storm towards the presidential palace at the height of the EDSA III rebellion.
• 2000 A new class of composite material is fabricated, which has a combination of physical properties never before seen in a natural or man-made material.ref name=compref name=UCSD-press-release{{cite web|author=McDonald, Kim|title= UCSD Physicists Develop a New Class of Composite Material with 'Reverse' Physical Properties Never Before Seen
• 1999 Three spectators were killed and eight others were injured at Lowe's Motor Speedway during an IRL race when a tire went into the grandstand.
• 1997 Toni Blair elected Prime Minister of the UK
• 1996 Ideal Husband opens at Barrymore Theater NYC for 308 performances
• 1995 On the Waterfront opens at Atkinson Theater NYC for 8 performances
• 1994 My Fair Lady closes at Virginia Theater NYC after 165 performances
• 1993 Bomb attack on Sri Lankan President (26 die)
• 1992 LA Dodgers postpone 3 games due to racial riots due to Rodney King
• 1991 Will Rogers Follies opens at Palace Theater NYC for 983 performances
• 1990 Prelude to a Kiss opens at Helen Hayes Theater, New York City
• 1989 The Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World opens to the public. It covers 135 acres. Total construction costs were over US$500 million. Advertising and promotions for the opening cost US$30 million. Entrance prices are US$29 for adults, and US$23 for children aged 3-9.
• 1988 Romance / Romance opens at Helen Hayes Theater NYC for 297 performances
• 1987 Pope John Paul II beatifies Edith Stein, a Jewish-born Carmelite nun who was gassed in the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz.
• 1986 Bill Elliott sets stock car speed record of 212.229 mph.
• 1985 US President Ronald Reagan ends embargo against Nicaragua.
• 1984 Mick Fleetwood (of Fleetwood Mac) files for bankruptcy
• 1983 My One & Only opens at St. James Theater NYC for 767 performances
• 1982 Nordiques 4 - Isles 5 (OT) - Semifinals - Isles hold 3-0 lead
• 1981 Billie Jean King admits to a lesbian affair with Marilyn Barnett
• 1980 Day in Hollywood, A Night... opens at John Golden NYC for 588 performances
• 1979 Marshall Islands (in the Pacific) become self-governing.
• 1978 1st black Mayor of New Orleans (Ernest Morial) inaugurated
• 1977 Empress Lilly dedicated
• 1976 Jos Hermens on the Netherlands sets record for 20,000 metre, 57:24.2.
• 1975 Islander Parise and Potvin score within 14 seconds in playoffs Flyers 5-Isles 4 - Semifinals - Flyers hold 2-0 lead
• 1973 San Francisco Giants score seven runs with two outs in 9th inning to beat Pittsburgh Pirates, 8-7.
• 1972 Different Times opens at ANTA Theater NYC for 24 performances
• 1971 Amtrak Railroad begins operation
• 1970 Protests erupt in Seattle, Washington, following the announcement by U.S. President Richard Nixon that U.S. Forces in Vietnam would pursue enemy troops into Cambodia, a neutral country.
• 1969 43 Unification church couples wed in New York City
• 1968 Ben Franklin in Paris closes at Lunt Fontanne NYC after 215 performances
• 1967 Jelle Zijlstra becomes President of the Netherlands Bank
• 1966 US troops shooting targets in Cambodia.
• 1965 USSR launches Luna 5; later impacts on Moon
• 1964 1st BASIC program runs on a computer (Dartmouth)
• 1963 Indonesia takes control of Irian Jaya (west New Guinea) from Netherlands.
• 1962 JFK authorizes Area Redevelopment Act (ARA)
• 1961 1st US airplane hijacked to Cuba
• 1960 Russia shoots down American pilot Francis Gary Powers' U-2 spy plane over Sverdlovsk.
• 1959 White Sox Early Wynn beats Red Sox 1-0 on his own HR
• 1958 Ambonese rebellion bombed Ambon / conquer Morotai
• 1957 Flevo Boys soccer team forms in Emmeloord
• 1956 The polio vaccine developed by Jonas Salk is made available to the public.
• 1955 Babe Didrikson-Zaharias wins LPGA Peach Blossom Golf Tournament.
• 1954 WAPA TV channel 4 in San Juan, PR (NBC / SFN) begins broadcasting
• 1952 Mr Potato Head, introduced
• 1951 Dutch Reformed Church introduces new church choir
• 1950 Gwendolyn Brooks, is 1st Black awarded a Pulitzer Prize (poetry)
• 1949 Gerard Kuiper discovers Nereid, (second satellite of Neptune).
• 1948 Pope Pius XII publishes encyclical Auspicia quaedam
• 1947 Radar for commercial and private planes first demonstrated.
• 1946 Mrs Emma Clarissa Clement named "American Mother of the Year".
• 1945 Radio Budapest, Hungary re-enters shortwave broadcasting after WWII
• 1944 Pulitzer prize awarded to Martin Flavin (Journey in the dark)
• 1943 Rauter signs unofficial death sentence
• 1942 Radio Orange calls to defy order to wear "Jewish star".
• 1941 General Mills introduces Cheerios cereal.
• 1940 The 1940 Olympics are cancelled.
• 1939 Batman comics hit street
• 1937 FDR signs act of neutrality
• 1936 Emperor Haile Selassie leaves Ethiopia as Italian invades.
• 1935 Boulder Dam is completed.
• 1934 Water state kingdom dismisses NSB-leader Anton Mussert
• 1933 The Roca-Runciman Treaty between Argentina and Great Britain is signed by Julio Argentino Roca, Jr., and Sir Walter Runciman.
• 1931 Empire State Building opens in New York City
• 1930 Bradman scores 236 Aust vs. Worcs, his 1st f-class innings in Eng
• 1929 Farm workers' strike begins in East-Groningen.
• 1928 Drunken fascist Erich Wichman attacks VARA-radio transmitter
• 1927 1st British airliner to serve cooked meals (Imperial Airways)
• 1926 Brooklyn Dodgers and Boston Braves deadlock at 1-1 in 26 innings
• 1925 Cyprus becomes a British Crown Colony.
• 1923 Rahula College is established in Ceylon with the name of quotParakramabhahu Vidyalayaquot.
• 1922 Charlie Robertson of Chicago pitches a perfect no-hit, no-run game.
• 1921 Drusian sultan Pasja al-Atrasj elected Governor of Suwayda.
• 1920 Belgian-Luxembourg toll tunnel opens.
• 1919 Mount Kelud (Indonesia) erupts, boiling crater lake which broke through crater wall killing 5,000 people in 104 small villages.
• 1918 German troops enter Don province they take Rostov May 6.
• 1915 British Lusitania leaves New York, for Liverpool.
• 1913 Longacre Theater opens at 220 W 48th Steet New York City, New York.
• 1912 Beverly Hills Hotel opens.
• 1909 Netherlands begins unity with Belgium.
• 1907 Indian Mine Laws passes (concessions from Netherlands-Indies).
• See more

Famous Birthday

• Jamie Dornan: TV Actor.
• Ajith Kumar: Indian film actor.
• Zaz (singer)
• Joanna Lumley: British actress born in Kashmir.
• Yasmina Reza: French actress and playwright.
• Danielle Darrieux: French actress, on-screen since 1930,...
• Catherine Frot: French theatre and film actress,...
• Wes Anderson: Director.
• Tim McGraw: American musician.
• Anushka Sharma: Indian actress and model.
• Julie Pietri
• Alain Bernard: French swimmer and Olympic champion, the...
• Julie Benz: American actress.
• Judy Collins: American folksinger, acclaimed for over...
• Glenn Ford: Canadian-American actor, with starring...
• Françoise Laborde: French journalist and TV host on France...
• Marc-Vivien Foé: Cameroonian footballer (d. 2003).
• Hélène Fillières
• Rebecca Hampton
• Amira Casar
• Tawnni Cable
• Rita Coolidge
• Rita Coolidge: Musician.
• David Cochrane: American astrologer and computer...
• Richard Baquié: French sculptor.
• Violante Placido: Actress.
• Bahia (Brazil)
• Stockholm (Sweden)
• Gabriele Amorth: Italian ecclesiastic, a Roman Catholic...
• Lylah (singer)
• Caitlin Stasey: TV Actress.
• Tommy Robredo: Spanish tennis player.
• Dann Florek: American actor.
• Cecilia Peck: American actress and noted family, the...
• Empire State Building
• André Weber: Colmar Actor.
• Max-Pol Fouchet: French poet, writer, art critic and...
• Kelly Bensimon: American model television personality...
• Royston Langdon
• Mathieu Simonet
• Sarah Chatto: British royalty, daughter of Princess...
• Aimé Barelli: French conductor, composer, singer and...
• Brigitte Barèges
• Alain Néri
• Billy Owens: NBA forward / guard (Sacramento Kings).
• Pauli Rantasalmi
• Elana Eden
• Jacqueline Saint-Jean
• Danièle Huillet: French filmmaker, who formed a creative...
• Jack Paar: American comedian author and talk show...
• D'arcy Wretzky: American musician (The Smashing...
• Scott Carpenter: American astronaut-aquanaut; the second...
• Wendy Allnutt
• Alban Moga: French rugby player, selected 22 times...
• Robert Reid (businessman)
• Anne Fletcher
• Claude Quin: French politician and economist.
• Gérard Lindeperg
• Cyd Hayman
• Austin Croshere: American basketball player: forward,...
• Joseph Allen Hynek
• Mike Watson
• Steve Cauthen: American jockey from 1976 who recorded...
• Stuart Appleby: Australian-American golfer, a member of...
• Terry Southern: American screenwriter (Born 1924).
• Robert Varnajo: French road bicycle racer, who won a...
• Pasquale Gravina: Italian member of the Men's Volleyball...
• Fran Vázquez
• Terry Southern: American screenwriter (Born 1924).
• Akira Yoshimura
• Jerry Heard: American golfer.
• Barbara Lynne Devlin
• Owen Paul
• Eddie Johnson: NBA guard / forward (Houston Rockets,...
• Laura Betti: Italian actress known particularly for...
• Peter Van den Abeele
• Robert Prete: American actor, psychic and ordained...
• Dominique Fourcade
• Shahar Peer
• Bourlem Guerdjou
• Arnaud Poivre d'Arvor
• Jos Ghysen: Belgian writer, radio journalist.
• Mamadou Samassa
• Hanns-Martin Schleyer: German industrialist, a terrorism...
• Marilyn Milian: current judge on The People's Court.
• Shirley Horn: American jazz singer and pianist (d....
• Julian Goodman: American broadcasting executive and...
• Aliaksandr Hleb
• Ignazio Silone: Italian Author (Fontamara, Pane e vino),...
• Michel Camdessus: French applied economist and...
• Claudine Dupuis
• Kate Smith: American singer ("God Bless America"),...
• Roland L Verhavert
• Olivier O Olivier
• Tad Mosel: American playwright, winner of the...
• Henry Koster: German-American director producer and...
• Maurice Noble
• Serge Silberman
• James Copeland
• Antony Worrall Thompson: English celebrity chef.
• See more

Famous Deaths

• Ayrton Senna: Brazilian Formula One race car driver...
• Steve Reeves: American physical culturist, a 6' 1",...
• Richard Thorpe: American director and screenwriter (d....
• Gene Sheldon: Actor (Bernardo-Zorro), dies at 72.
• Carroll Righter: American professional astrologer and...
• Marion Mack: Actress (General).
• Glenda Farrell: Enid, Oklahoma -- Actress (Golddiggers...
• Edith Day: Actress (Romance of Air), dies at 75.
• Clarence A Bacote: Historian / political scientist, dies at...
• Peter Huchel: Writer, dies at 78.
• Douglass Watson: actor (Mac Cory - Another World), dies...
• Sunset Carson: Cowboy actor (El Paso Kid, Oregon...
• Ranasinghe Premadasa: President (Sri Lanka, 1989-93),...
• Bebe: AKA Flipper, dolphin, dies at 40.
• Louis Campbell-Tipton composer: dies at age 43.
• Christos Ladas: Greek minister of Justice, is murdered.
• Oscar Torp: Norwegian premier, dies.
• Harold G Nicolson: English author (English sense of humor),...
• Fernand Ansseau: Belgian operator (Orfeo), dies at age...
• Aram Katchaturian: Russian composer (The Earth), dies at...
• David Webster: South African white anti-apartheids...
• Henri Pelissier: French cyclist (Born 1889).
• John Barclay Armstrong: Texas Ranger and U.S.
• Johan Oscar Smith: Norweigian Christian leader and founder...
• Lope K Santos: Filipino writer, father of the Filipino...
• Crown Prince Euimin: Crown Prince of Korea (Born 1897).
• TRM Howard: civil rights leader, entrepreneur,...
• Denise Robins (aka Francesca Wright: Ashley French, Harriet Gray, Julia Kane)...
• Pierre Beregovoy: French Prime Minister (Born 1925).
• Sharon Redd: American house music and urban...
• Luana Patten: American actress (Born 1938).
• Rob Lacey: Christian author (Born 1962).
• Big Hawk: American rapper (Born 1969).
• Johnny Paris: American saxophonist (Johnny and the...
• Deborah Jeane Palfrey: Washington, D.C.
• Danny Gans: American entertainer (Born 1956).
• Rob McConnell: Canadian jazz composer/arranger and...
• Philipp Freiherr von Boeselager: last surviving member of the 20 July...
• Princess Margaret: of Connaught (Born 1882).
• Antonin Dvorak: Czech composer; a teacher and violinist.
• Paolo Stoppa: Italian film and stage actor.
• Anthony Mamo: Maltese lawyer and politician 1st...
• Asger Jorn: Danish painter and sculptor (d. 1973).
• Sergio Franchi: Italian-American singer and actor (d....
• Edward Cuthbert Bairstow: Composer, dies at 71.
• Harold Nicolson: British diplomat, author and politician...
• Tom Tyler: Actor (Lost Ranch, Coyote Trails), dies...
• Jack Adams: Canadian ice hockey player, coach and...
• Aram Khachaturian: Georgian-Armenian composer and conductor...
• Percy William Whitlock: Composer, dies at 42.
• Sanner: Leader of Norger blood bath, executed.
• Grant Mitchell: Actor (Great Lie, Laura, Cairo,...
• Leo Spies: Composer, dies at 65.
• Asher Wallfish: Journalist, dies at 67.
• Miss Elizabeth: American wrestler (Born 1960).
• John Glover English chemist (production sulfuric acid): dies at age 85.
• Luigi Arditi violist/composer: dies at age 80.
• Nicolaus Adriani: translator (Middle-Celebes Language),...
• John R Locksmith de Brown: vicar/CHU-politician, dies at age 71.
• Desider Antalffy-Zsiross: Hungarian organist/composer, dies at age...
• Paul Josef Goebbels: German minister on propoganda, commits...
• William Fox [Fried]: American film pioneer (Nickelodeon),...
• Hans [Henri EA] Tuynman: provo (Full-time Provo), dies at age 50.
• Jose E Rodo: Uruguayan writer (Motivos de proteo).
• William Mitchell Byers: musician, dies on 79th birthday.
• Helen Wagner: American actress best known for her...
• Snitz Edwards: Actor (Phantom of the Opera, College),...
• Ella Logan: Actress (52nd Street, Woman Chases Man),...
• Gordon Jenkins: Webster Grove, Missouri -- Orchestra...
• Alexandros Panagoulis: Greek poet who fought the military junta...
• Ted Lowe: English snooker commentator (Born 1920).
• Hugo Peretti: American songwriter and record producer...
• Spike Jones: Long Beach, California -- Composer (In a...
• Ivo Rudolph Jarosy: film scholar/exhibitor, dies at age 74.
• August Cuppens: Flemish Author (Limburgs Driemanschap),...
• Alexander Alexandrovich Davidenko: Composer, dies at 35.
• See more

Top #1 songs in the USA

• 2017 Ed Sheeran - Shape Of You
• 2016 Rihanna Featuring Drake - Work
• 2015 Wiz Khalifa Featuring Charlie Puth - See You Again
• 2014 Pharrell Williams - Happy
• 2013 P!nk - Just Give Me A Reason
• 2012 Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know
• 2011 Rihanna - S&M
• 2010 B.o.B. - Nothin' On You
• 2009 The Black Eyed Peas - Boom Boom Pow
• 2008 Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love
• 2007 Timbaland - Give It To Me
• 2006 Daniel Powter - Bad Day
• 2005 50 Cent - Candy Shop
• 2004 Usher - Yeah!
• 2003 50 Cent - In Da Club
• 2002 Ashanti - Foolish
• 2001 Janet - All For You
• 2000 Santana - Maria, Maria
• 1999 TLC - No Scrubs
• 1998 Next - Too Close
• 1997 Puff Daddy - Can't Nobody Hold Me Down
• 1996 Celine Dion - Because You Loved Me
• 1995 Montell Jordan - This Is How We Do It
• 1994 R. Kelly - Bump N' Grind
• 1993 Silk - Freak Me
• 1992 Kris Kross - Jump
• 1991 Amy Grant - Baby Baby
• 1990 Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U
• 1989 Madonna - Like A Prayer
• 1988 Whitney Houston - Where Do Broken Hearts Go
• 1987 Aretha Franklin - I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)
• 1986 Prince - Kiss
• 1985 USA for Africa - We Are The World
• 1984 Phil Collins - Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)
• 1983 Michael Jackson - Beat It
• 1982 Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - I Love Rock 'N Roll
• 1981 Daryl Hall & John Oates - Kiss On My List
• 1980 Blondie - Call Me
• 1979 Blondie - Heart Of Glass
• 1978 Bee Gees - Night Fever
• 1977 Glen Campbell - Southern Nights
• 1976 Johnnie Taylor - Disco Lady
• 1975 B.J. Thomas - (Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song
• 1974 MFSB - TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia)
• 1973 Dawn - Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree
• 1972 Roberta Flack - The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
• 1971 Three Dog Night - Joy To The World
• 1970 The Jackson 5 - ABC
• 1969 The 5th Dimension - Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)
• 1968 Bobby Goldsboro - Honey
• 1967 Nancy Sinatra - Somethin' Stupid
• 1966 Young Rascals - Good Lovin'
• 1965 Herman's Hermits - Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter
• 1964 The Beatles - Can't Buy Me Love
• 1963 Little Peggy March - I Will Follow Him
• 1962 Elvis Presley - Good Luck Charm
• 1961 Del Shannon - Runaway
• 1960 Elvis Presley - Stuck On You
• 1959 The Fleetwoods - Come Softly To Me
• 1958 The Platters - Twilight Time
• 1957 Elvis Presley - All Shook Up
• See more

Top #1 Rock songs

• 2017 Imagine Dragons - Believer
• 2016 twenty one pilots - Stressed Out
• 2015 WALK THE MOON - Shut Up And Dance
• 2014 Bastille - Pompeii
• 2013 Imagine Dragons - Radioactive
• 2012 fun. Featuring Janelle Monae - We Are Young
• 2011 Foo Fighters - Rope
• 2010 Stone Temple Pilots - Between The Lines