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

That day was also celebrated as May Day in the now defunct Soviet Union with parades in Red Square.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 4, 2026

The Halloween Indicator suggests stronger stock market returns from Halloween to May Day, with the Dow averaging 5.3% annually in winter versus 1.9% in summer.

From Barron's • Oct. 27, 2025

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 • Sep. 1, 2025

The statue was infamously sprayed with red paint and adorned with a green turf Mohican during May Day protests in 2000, for which the perpetrator received a 30-day jail sentence.

From BBC • May 6, 2025

He looked at photos of Soviet missiles taken at various May Day parades and identified each one, explaining its capabilities.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin