Published on Monday, September 7, 2026
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

U.S. and Canadian communities in Costa Rica are observing Labor Day Monday, a holiday celebrated on the first Monday of September in both countries.

The U.S. Embassy and Consular Section in San José is closed Monday in observance of the holiday. The embassy will reopen Tuesday, with public hours from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Canadian Embassy in San José will remain open and operate on its regular schedule.

In the United States, Labor Day honors the American labor movement and the power of collective action by workers, who are essential to the functioning of society, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The holiday, commonly associated with Labor Day weekend, is a federal holiday.

“Beginning in the late 19th century, as trade unions and labor movements grew, unionists proposed setting aside a day to recognize labor,” the U.S. Department of Labor said.

Labor Day also traditionally marks the unofficial end of summer in the United States and Canada, as vacations wind down and students return to school. Summer officially ends Sept. 22, with the arrival of the autumnal equinox.

The first Labor Day parade was held in New York City, U.S.A., and was organized by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor. Oregon became the first U.S. state to recognize the holiday officially in 1887. By the time Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894, 30 states were already observing it.


In Canada, Labor Day has been a statutory public holiday since 1894, although its origins date to an April 1872 labor demonstration in Toronto. The protest supported striking printers and led directly to the passage of the Trade Unions Act, which legally recognized unions.


Canadian unions, which were linked to the Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor, helped promote public observances of Labor Day on the first Monday of September.

Labor Day is observed on different dates around the world. In Costa Rica, the holiday is celebrated every May 1 as International Workers’ Day.

Other English-speaking countries, including the United Kingdom and Ireland, recognize workers’ rights with a public holiday on the first Monday of May.

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Have you heard of any events organized by Canadians or Americans in Costa Rica to mark Labor Day?  We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com