May Day

American  

noun

1. the first day of May, long celebrated with various festivities, as the crowning of the May queen, dancing around the Maypole, and, in recent years, often marked by labor parades and political demonstrations.

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May Day British  

noun

1. 1. the first day of May, traditionally a celebration of the coming of spring: in some countries now observed as a holiday in honour of workers

   2. ( as modifier )

      May-Day celebrations

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Etymology

Origin of May Day

First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English

Compare meaning

How does may-day compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• May Day vs. Labor Day

Example Sentences

May 1—May Day—was a Soviet workers’ holiday, a day of celebrations and parades that Khrushchev always enjoyed.

From Literature

Boyle will present You Are Here, which will take place over the May Day bank holiday weekend.

From BBC

Rallies across the Southland and the country were united under the banner of May Day Strong, a partnership of labor, political and environmental organizations.

From Los Angeles Times

A complete list of the collective actions can be found on the May Day Strong website.

From Los Angeles Times

Additionally, during the popular May Day holiday season last year, some universities issued strict guidelines for students who had planned to travel.

From BBC