1. Texas celebrates May Day as a traditional holiday to mark the start of summer.

2. On May 1, 1937, the Texas Gas & Electric Company hired pinkerton agents to intimidate striking workers in the Texan city of Austin. The ensuing violence resulted in the deaths of two workers and the injury of 30 others.

3. May 1, 1836, marks the date when the Battle of San Jacinto ended with a victory for Texas over Mexico. This battle secured Texas’ independence from Mexico and led to the creation of the recognized Republic of Texas.

4. During the early 1900s, May Day was celebrated throughout Texas and America as a day of political action and labor-union solidarity. However, in the midst of the Red Scare and anti-communist sentiment in the late 1940s-1950s, celebrations of May Day as a pro-labor holiday came under harsh criticism and attacks.

5. In Texas, Beltane Festival, which is observed on May Day, is believed to bring luck and promote fertility. Celebrants often light bonfires, decorate with flowers and ribbons, and perform traditional dances. The Beltane Festival has become a popular part of Texas’ cultural heritage.