Tribute to Labor, Honor the Workers — Origin of Labor Day & 2026 Holiday Arrangement
International Workers’ Day, also known as May Day, is a shared festival for working people across the world, paying tribute to all laborers and praising the spirit of hard work.
During the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, workers in Europe and America were severely exploited. They had to work 14 to 18 hours a day with low wages. On May 1, 1886, more than 200,000 workers in Chicago, USA, launched a general strike, demanding an eight-hour working day. The movement shocked the whole world. Though the strike was violently suppressed and many workers lost their lives, the eight-hour work system was eventually realized. To commemorate this labor movement, the Second International designated May 1 as International Workers’ Day in Paris in July 1889. In December 1949, China officially set May 1 as a statutory Labor Day, and the spirit of labor has been passed down ever since.
In 2026, the statutory Labor Day holiday falls on May 1st and 2nd. With make-up days adjusted, the holiday will last from May 1st to May 5th, totaling 5 days. People need to go to work on Saturday, May 9th.
Labor creates value, and struggle fulfills dreams. This May Day, let us respect every ordinary worker, recharge during the holiday, and embrace the future with a more positive spirit.