1. May Day was once celebrated in Alabama as a day to honor workers, with parades and picnics held throughout the state. In 1886, Alabama was one of the states where workers went on strike to demand better working conditions, during what became known as the Haymarket Affair.

2. On May 1, 1961, the Freedom Riders arrived in Birmingham, Alabama, to challenge segregation on public buses. The Freedom Riders were a group of civil rights activists who rode buses through the South in an effort to end segregation on public transportation.

3. In 1972, Alabama Governor George Wallace declared May 1 to be "Law Day," a day to honor and celebrate the legal profession. The celebration continues to this day, with events held throughout the state to mark the occasion.

4. On May 1, 2011, one of the worst tornado outbreaks in Alabama history occurred, with dozens of tornadoes touching down across the state. More than 240 people lost their lives, and thousands were left homeless or without power.

5. May 1 is also the day on which Alabama's state bird, the Yellowhammer, was officially recognized. The Yellowhammer, also known as the Northern Flicker, was chosen as the state bird in 1927, and it remains an important symbol of Alabama's natural heritage.