May 1st is Labor Day in England, France, and Italy. The date was originally designated as International Workers Day chosen by a socialist meeting in Paris in 1899, but in recent years has become known as Labour Day, or La Fete du Travail, or Festa dei Lavoratori, all translated to Labor Day.

In France, the holiday comes with a little treat. People offer their loved ones a branch of Muguet (Lily-of-the-Valley) to wish them happiness and prosperity. Normally, everything is closed in France on this day except essential services such as hospitals and emergency services. Bakeries and florists can open if they are privately own, but only the owner can work.

This law is currently being debated in government. Many employees would like to work and get the double holiday payday, but trade unions are fighting the change. If a store or shop decides to open, they face a hefty fine, but for some the business compensates for the fee. The question I ask myself is: should this be a government question or personal choice?