HAVANA — President Raúl Castro’s call for May Day marches that would “make the earth shake,” became the slogan for the day. More than 2 million turned out for marches around the country, with Cuban media reporting 1 million here, where contingents assembled before dawn; 600,000 in Santiago de Cuba; and 100,000 or more in various provincial capitals.

In Havana, large contingents from the country’s 17 national unions put their stamp on the march. Health workers were at the front behind a giant banner saying, “Workers united in the construction of socialism,” followed by construction workers. The final contingents consisted of students from high schools, universities and military schools.

For two hours, starting at 7:30 a.m., the huge contingents marched through the Plaza of the Revolution, past a reviewing stand that included René González and Fernando González, the two members of the Cuban Five who have been released from U.S. prisons. Signs demanding the return of their three comrades — Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino and Antonio Guerrero — could be seen throughout the march.