Labor Day
History and traditions of Labor Day
Labor Day is observed each year in September and generally signals the end of the summer vacation period. Most schools, businesses and government offices are closed in recognition of this holiday. Although most people take Labor Day as a given day off from work, they may wonder, “What is Labor Day?”
The History of Labor Day
The first Labor Day was held in September, 1882, when 10,000 workers in New York City marched from the city hall to Union Square in what became the first-ever Labor Day parade. The participants marched to honor American workers and to publicize the issues they had with their employers in a peaceful way.
Two years later in 1884, workers in Chicago from the Pullman Palace Car Company went on strike to protest the firing of labor union representatives and pay cuts. As a result of the American Railroad Union’s instructions to boycott Pullman railway cars, 50,000 workers complied and subsequently, all rail traffic out of Chicago came to an immediate stop. President Grover Cleveland then dispatched troops to Chicago in an effort to resolve the situation; the strike was eventually broken and several union officials were sent to jail. This event brought publicity to the worker’s rights movement, and in 1894, Congress declared that a day in September would be a holiday for all workers, thereafter known as Labor Day.
The Labor Day holiday became a day for workers to celebrate their accomplishments and also provided a time for employees to air grievances and plan strategies for improving working conditions and salaries. Over time, Labor Day has become more of a holiday to enjoy leisure time than a day to protest and participate in union activities.
Labor Day Ideas
When is Labor Day? The holiday always falls on the first Monday in September, which makes for a three-day weekend; the only other one in the summer, following the 4th of July. Traditionally, most students go back to school just after Labor Day weekend, but now a number of schools start their school year before the holiday, some even as early as July. Labor Day also marks the start of the college football and NFL seasons. The NCAA often plays their first football games the week preceding Labor Day, and the NFL’s traditional first game is on the Thursday following Labor Day.
Since the Labor Day weekend is three days long, many people opt for a short trip if their schedule and budget allow. Labor Day weekend travel deals are often advertised; for the best savings, start investigating travel arrangements well before Labor Day to find the widest variety of options.
