Each year, Americans celebrate Labor Day on the first Monday in September. However, many people don’t know anything about the holiday other than the official end of summer.
Labor Day is a national holiday that celebrates the achievements of American workers. It was first created in 1882 by the Central Labor Union and became a federal holiday in 1894.
Labor Day is an opportunity for people to enjoy a day off work and spend time with family and friends. For some, it is also a time to reflect on the contributions of workers throughout history. Whether you are enjoying a day off or simply taking a moment to appreciate the work that goes into making our country what it is, remember that Labor Day is more than just the end of summer. It is a celebration of the hard-working people who make America great.
It began in 1882 in New York as a parade by the Knights of Columbus to give credit to working-class citizens’ contributions to New York life. Then, in 1884, the Knights organized a large parade celebrating the working class. The first Monday in September was chosen for the parade date, and the Knights decided to hold all future parades on that day. From then on, the Knights designated the first Monday in September as Labor Day.
Toward the end of the last decade of the 1800s, labor organizations lobbied state legislatures to observe Labor Day as an official state holiday. Finally, in 1887, the first states declared it a state holiday: Oregon, Colorado, New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey.
Finally, in 1894, Congress passed a law that designated Labor Day as an official national holiday.
Labor Day is celebrated in the United States, Canada, and other industrialized countries. Though in the U.S., it is a public holiday that also designates the summer season’s end.
