What is May Day?

May Day, celebrated by workers across the globe as International Labor Day, falls on May 1.

5月1日是五一劳动节，世界各地的工人都将其称为国际劳动节。

But you'd be forgiven if that's news to you. While the day traces its origins to an American laborers' fight for a shorter work day, the U.S. does not officially recognize International Labor Day.

但如果这对你来说是新闻，并不奇怪。虽然这一天起源于美国劳工争取缩短工作日的斗争，但美国并没有正式承认国际劳动节。

Like other countries that mark Labor Days on different dates, the U.S. and Canada celebrate their Labor Day in September.

与其他在不同日期庆祝劳动节的国家一样，美国和加拿大在9月庆祝劳动节。

U.S. resistance to celebrate International Labor Day — also called International Workers' Day — in May stems from a resistance to emboldening worldwide working-class unity, historians say.

历史学家说，美国拒绝在5月庆祝国际劳动节（又称国际劳工节），源于对鼓励全球工人阶级团结的抵制。

"The ruling class did not want to have a very active labor force connected internationally," said Peter Linebaugh, author of The Incomplete, True, Authentic, and Wonderful History of May Day. "The principle of national patriotism was used against the principle of working-class unity or trade union unity."

“统治阶级不希望看到一支非常活跃的劳动力量在国际上建立联系，” The Incomplete, True, Authentic, and Wonderful History of May Day一书的作者Peter Linebaugh说，“民族爱国主义原则被用来反对工人阶级或工会的团结。

That hasn't stopped American workers from commemorating the day, which in recent years has ranged from marching for labor rights to reading literature about Marxism.

但这并没有阻止美国工人纪念这一天，近年来，纪念活动的范围从争取劳工权利的游行到阅读有关马克思主义的文学作品等。

"The meaning of that day keeps changing," Linebaugh said.

“这一天的意义在不断变化，”Linebaugh说道。

以上文章来自WX公主号“英语跃进”

重点词汇

resistance /rɪˈzɪstəns/ n. 反对，抵制；抵抗，反抗

embolden /ɪmˈbəʊldən/ v. （使）有胆量，更勇敢；鼓励

commemorate /kəˈmeməreɪt/ v. 纪念