The International Workers’ Day, a symbol of international workers’ and syndical solidarity is marked worldwide this year as well.
Most Serbian citizens spend this day in one of the popular picnic sites in the vicinity of where they live. The inhabitants and guests of the Serbian capital have on disposal the sightseeing tour on the recently reconstructed Avala tower and visit to the Tresnja Lake, which is surrounded by forest and rich hunting ground, and can be reached over the Mount Avala. Another popular site is the Kosmaj Mountain, some 50 km from Belgrade, in whose foot are the monasteries Pavlovac, Kastaljan and Tresije. Some 15 km further, near Mladenovic, is the Markovacko Lake, a true paradise for all those who love fishing and vacation in nature. There are also many catering facilities located around it. The fishermen are also aware of the lake Duboki Potok, in the Barajevo municipality, and that whole region is known for the big wooded compound – Lipovicka forest, very well suited for recreational purposes.
The tourist visiting Belgrade can have a sightseeing tour on an open-top bus. Along with organized programs, the citizens traditionally spend the May Day in the sites such as Kosutnjak, Hajducka Cesma, peers on the Danube and Sava, and also the Kalemegdan park. Certainly one of most popular places, especially among the younger generations, is Ada Ciganlija, the island on the river Sava.
For years, the natural monument Devil’s Town, in southern Serbia, is being visited by thousands of tourists during the May holidays. Since the Devil’s Town, on the slopes of the Radan Mountain, was nominated for one of world’s natural wonders, the picnics on this locality have become a tradition that gathers the growing number of Serbian and foreign guests each year. The tourists are also attracted to two water springs with odd features. One is so-called Devil’s water, in the immediate vicinity of earthen pillars, is extremely cold and has funny taste and smell; the other is an extremely acidic spring with high mineralization.
Most citizens of Novi Sad have the tradition of spending May 1 on the mount Fruska Gora. The workers of the national park have set up more than 20 picnic sites. They have also installed hundreds of new benches and tables, fireplaces, as well as trash cans and mobile toilets.
The May Day has been marked in Serbia since 1893, and it was most popular during the era of communist authorities, so older population remembers it used to be on of central state holidays. In 1970s, big military parades were being held on this day, first in the Terazije square and later in the plateau in front of the former Federal Assembly. At that time, the May holidays included big celebrations with camp fires in the evening, and organized trips abroad were customary.
Nowadays, those with deeper pockets also take this opportunity to travel abroad, regardless of the economic crisis. Some others use this time to visit their relatives who live in other town or in the countryside.