Here in Romania, it’s a pretty big deal. It’s a public holiday, so a lot of people have the day off. This year, for example, because it falls on a Thursday, the government decided to make 2 May a day off as well, creating a four-day weekend. Barbecues with family and friends are the national pastime on 1 May. Spending time outdoors in open spaces (“la iarbă verde” - literally “to the green grass”) such as woods, meadows, beaches, parks, etc., barbecuing and having picnics is also a staple. This year, I’m going with my girlfriend and her parents to Italy and Switzerland (Lake Como and Lugano) - which also means we’ll be voting for president abroad (4 May - first round of the presidential elections).