Labor Day Holiday: Meaning, History & Celebration

Meaning 1：Public holiday for workers (Labor Day holiday)

Labor Day holiday 🔊

/ˈleɪbər deɪ ˈhɑːlədeɪ/

A public holiday to celebrate workers and their achievements, when people usually have a day off to relax or have fun.

Labor Day holiday picnic with families and Happy Labor Day sign

Public holiday for workers 🔊

➕

/ˈpʌblɪk ˈhɑːlədeɪ fɔr ˈwɜːrkərz/

A day off work to honor and appreciate the contributions of workers, usually observed on the first Monday in September in the U.S. and Canada.

📁 Category：Culture & History 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Labor (work, Latin), Day (OE dæg), Holiday (OE hāligdæg, holy day).

💡 Mnemonic

Think: On Labor Day, we celebrate by not laboring!

📖 Example

We are all looking forward to the Labor Day holiday so we can have a long weekend trip to the countryside. 🔊 We are all looking forward to the Labor Day holiday so we can have a long weekend trip to the countryside.

🔗 Collocations

celebrate the Labor Day holiday – To observe the holiday with festivities

enjoy a long weekend during Labor Day holiday – To have an extended break from work

plan a trip for the Labor Day holiday – To arrange travel during the holiday period

🔄 Synonyms

Labour Day (n.) – British English spelling for the same holiday

Workers' Day (n.) – Alternative name used in some countries for the holiday honoring workers

May Day (n.) – International Workers' Day celebrated on May 1st, but not the same as Labor Day in the U.S.

🚫 Antonyms

workday (n.) – A day when one goes to work, opposite of a holiday

weekday (n.) – Regular working days from Monday to Friday

🌱 Derivatives

labor (v./n.) – to work hard; physical or mental work

day laborer (n.) – a worker who is hired by the day

holidaymaker (n.) – a person on holiday/vacation

📖 Cultural Story

Originating from the 1882 New York parade of the Central Labor Union, Labor Day became a U.S. federal holiday in 1894, honoring the labor movement and workers' contributions.