May 1st has been a time of celebration for centuries as the first day of Summer. May Day marks the end of the uncomfortable winter half of the year in the Northern hemisphere, and it has traditionally been an occasion for popular and often raucous celebrations. But since the Labour Movement began there has been a new tradition of protests and demonstrations all over the world. This year was no different.

Protesters took to the streets all over Europe, in both peaceful and violent demonstrations. With the rising unemployment spreading across europe, the protests this year seemed much more intense than ones in the past. Water cannons and tear gas were fired at demonstrators in Turkey, Greece and Germany as banks and shops were trashed by the marchers. Burning flags and garbage littered the streets, lighting up Berlin and Istanbul early Saturday morning.

The protesters were mainly made up of the unemployed who need work, and students who have no means of paying tuition. The recession is bad everywhere but has hit countries in Europe the hardest. Almost one in three young people in Turkey are without jobs, similar statistics are shown in other countries in Europe and Governments are fearing more social unrest because of the downturn.

BERLIN - MAY 01: Rioters stand near a fire started during May Day clashes between police and mostly left-wing protesters in Kreuzberg on May 1, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin police arrested 57 people in protests that turned violent. A police spokesman said 48 police officers were injured earlier during the clashes. (Photo by Carsten Koall/Getty Images)