Why Do We Celebrate Labor Day?

This is one of the more recognizable and consistently observed holidays in the United States. On the first Monday of September each year people take a day off of work and celebrate with family and friends, thanks to the official declaration of Labor Day in the nation.

While some people may not have the information to give a detailed explanation of the history of Labor Day, most are aware of the basic reason for the observance. The word “labor” gives us a great clue. According to historical records, the observance of Labor Day began in 1882, as the efforts of the thousands of laborers in the United States resulted in a specific day to give thanks to the hard-working men and women of the nation.

It isn’t exactly clear who should get credit for the existence of this national holiday, but some narratives point to an officer in the Carpenters and Joiners union who was also instrumental in the formation of the nationwide organization, the American Federation of Labor (AFL). Other historical records agree that a man named Maguire or McGuire is responsible for the idea, but was an officer in a New York labor union.

Apparently, the New York organization put together a committee to make this an official celebration (New York City – 1882). Organizers chose the first Monday of September because it was a halfway point between July 4 (Independence Day) and Thanksgiving, both of which were established national holidays. As more state and local governments began to recognize the day, along with a growing number of labor unions and other trade groups, Labor Day was more widely observed.

The day became an official, nationwide holiday when Grover Cleveland signed a federal law to that effect. Some state that this President saw the declaration as helping Cleveland gain favor with a larger number of citizens, many of whom had turned against the President when he used United States soldiers to stop and railroad-union strike in Chicago. Several dozen workers died during that event.

In the early years, communities around the country organized parades and official celebrations on courthouse lawns on Labor Day. Parades were once a common site on this day as well. The complex celebrations were not so common after a few years, however. Cities and labor organizations in Canada sometimes join in the observance in honor of the working people in that nation.

At first, only the laborers and factories for whom the day was established stopped work on the first Monday of September. As time went on, all workers, public and private, began to observe the day.

Labor Day is now a national holiday on which everyone rests from work. Some individuals and organizations hung the name “Loyalty” on a day that might have been Labor Day. On May 1st, some still mark another important date in labor history. United States flags are flown on this day, along with smaller, widespread celebrations. However, the vast majority of U.S. residents remember laborers on the first Monday of September.

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