# Does the communist MayDay holiday have any relation to what people say while in perol

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-communist-mayday-holiday-have-any-relation-to-what-people-say-while-in-perol/106758>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 2, 2002, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-communist-mayday-holiday-have-any-relation-to-what-people-say-while-in-perol/106758 "2002-05-02T00:26:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2002, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-communist-mayday-holiday-have-any-relation-to-what-people-say-while-in-perol/106758/1 "2002-05-02T00:26:49Z")

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Why does a person who is in trouble say “mayday”? Is it in any relation to the communist “may-day” holiday (today)?

If so (or if anyone knows of another reason behind it) could someone supply me with a link?

Thanks,  
Clay

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**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2002, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-communist-mayday-holiday-have-any-relation-to-what-people-say-while-in-perol/106758/2 "2002-05-02T00:33:19Z")

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The call of “MAYDAY” is from the French phrase ‘M’aidez’,  
meaning ‘Help Me.’

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**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2002, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-communist-mayday-holiday-have-any-relation-to-what-people-say-while-in-perol/106758/3 "2002-05-02T00:35:22Z")

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So no relation behind the “May-day?”

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**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2002, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-communist-mayday-holiday-have-any-relation-to-what-people-say-while-in-perol/106758/4 "2002-05-02T00:59:36Z")

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Nope. No relation.

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**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2002, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-communist-mayday-holiday-have-any-relation-to-what-people-say-while-in-perol/106758/5 "2002-05-02T01:03:19Z")

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Thanks for your help.

-Clay

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2002, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-communist-mayday-holiday-have-any-relation-to-what-people-say-while-in-perol/106758/6 "2002-05-02T01:12:27Z")

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Sure, the french pinko commies centuries before …

Never mind: See [http://www.guardian.co.uk/netnotes/article/0,6729,214862,00.html](http://www.guardian.co.uk/netnotes/article/0,6729,214862,00.html)

May Day is not a ‘communist holiday’ although it is one of socialist inspiration.