Thousands of Tunisians marked May Day by reveling in the new freedoms won from their Arab Spring revolution. May Day gatherings were tightly controlled in previous years under the rule of the country’s autocratic president, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. But this time, people were free to celebrate. Some 25,000 revelers — from union members to Islamists to whole families — poured onto the capital’s main thoroughfare. The crowd appeared to be even larger than the one that flooded Avenue Bourguiba on Jan. 14, 2011, the day Ben Ali flew into exile in Saudi Arabia.

UNITED STATES: Reviving a movement.

The anti-Wall Street groups collectively known as the Occupy Movement planned demonstrations, strikes and acts of civil disobedience across the nation. In New York City, the birthplace of the movement, organizers called for picket lines and a march through Manhattan, as well as blocking one or more bridges or tunnels connecting the city’s economic engine to New Jersey and elsewhere. In Los Angeles, at least a half-dozen rallies were planned. In Atlanta, immigration activists rallied against a law targeting illegal immigration enacted last year. Rallies were also planned in Chicago and Minneapolis.

RUSSIA: Pro-government.

Around 100,000 people — including President Dmitry Medvedev and President-elect Vladimir Putin — marched in Moscow to support the government. The two leaders happily chatted with participants and many banners criticized Russia’s opposition movement. One read “Spring has come, the swamp has dried up,’’ referring to Bolotnaya (Swampy) Square, the site of some of the largest opposition demonstrations.

CANADA: Worry.