Labor Day
Labor Day Pare, Union Square, New York, 1882
Observed by	United States
Type	Federal Holiday (federal government, DC and U.S. Territories); and State Holiday (in all 50 U.S. States)
Date	First Monday in September
2012 date	September 3
2013 date	September 2
2014 date	September 1
Celebrations	Parades, barbecues
Related to	Labour Day

Labor Day is an American federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September, that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.

History [edit]

In 1882, Matthew Maguire, a machinist, first proposed the holiday while serving as secretary of the CLU (Central Labor Union) of New York.^[1] Others argue that it was first proposed by Peter J. McGuire of the American Federation of Labor in May 1882,^[2] after witnessing the annual labor festival held in Toronto, Canada.^[3]

Oregon was the first state to make it a holiday on February 21, 1887. By the time it became a federal holiday in 1894, thirty states officially celebrated Labor Day.^[2] Following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the Pullman Strike, the United States Congress unanimously voted to approve rush legislation that made Labor Day a national holiday; President Grover Cleveland signed it into law a mere six days after the end of the strike.^[4] The September date originally chosen by the CLU of New York and observed by many of the nation's trade unions for the past several years was selected rather than the more widespread International Workers' Day because Cleveland was concerned that observance of the latter would be associated with the nascent Communist, Syndicalist and Anarchist movements that, though distinct from one another, had rallied to commemorate the Haymarket Affair in International Workers' Day.^[5] All U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the territories have made it a statutory holiday.

Pattern of celebration [edit]

The form for the celebration of Labor Day was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday: A street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and spirit de corps of the trade and labor organizations",^[1] followed by a festival for the workers and their families. This became the pattern for Labor Day celebrations. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the civil significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Day was adopted as Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the Selector movement.^[1]

The holiday is often the return to school, although school starting times now may vary.

Retail Sale Day [edit]

To take advantage of large numbers of potential customers free to shop, Labor Day has become an important sale weekend for many retailers in the United States. Some retailers claim it is one of the largest sale dates of the year, second only to the Christmas season's Black Friday.^[6]

Ironically, because of the importance of the sale weekend, some of those who are employed in the retail sector not only work on Labor Day, but work longer hours. More Americans work in the retail industry than any other, with retail employment making up 24% of all jobs in the United States.^[7] The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that of those employed in the retail sector, only 3% are members of a Labor Union.^[8]

End of summer [edit]

Labor Day has come to be celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer. In high society, Labor Day is (or was) considered the last day of the year when it is fashionable to wear white^[9] or seersucker.^[10][11]

In U.S. sports, Labor Day marks the beginning of the NFL and college football seasons. NCAA teams usually play their first games the week before Labor Day, with the NFL traditionally playing their first game the Thursday following Labor Day. The Southern 500 NASCAR auto race was held that day from 1950 to 1983 in Darlington, South Carolina. At Indianapolis Raceway Park, the National Hot Rod Association hold their finals to the U.S. Nationals drag race.

In the U.S., most school districts that started summer vacation 1-2 weeks into June will resume school the day after this day (see First Day of School), while schools that had summer vacation begin on the Saturday before Memorial Day in late May will have already been in session since late August. However this tradition is changing as many school districts end 1-2 weeks into June and begin mid-August.^[12]

See also [edit]

• International Workers' Day
• Labor history of the United States
• Labor unions in the United States
• Trade union
• Workers' Memorial Day

References [edit]

Bibliography [edit]

• Green, James (2007). Death In the Haymarket: A Story of Chicago, the First Labor Movement and the Bombing that Divided Gilded Age America. Anchor. ISBN 1-4000-3322-5. 

External links [edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Labor Day in the United States

• In Praise of the American Worker - slideshow by Life magazine
• Laborday History and Activities
• History of Labor Day, History of Artists and Writers Unions, Rare Labor Related Comic Books
• Celebrate Labor Day in Australia