HOW DID LABOR DAY BECOME A HOLIDAY?

Today, Monday the 6th of September is Labor Day in the United States and Canada. One might ask, how did Labor Day become a holiday and what does it mean to you?

Labor Day is an annual holiday observed the first Monday in September, celebrating the social and economic achievements of laborers, which would be most of us who work. It is an annual national tribute to all the contributions you and I as laborers have made to the prosperity, well-being and the strength of our country.

It all started back in September 5, 1882 in New York City in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. They selected the first Monday in September in the year of 1884 as the holiday to celebrate Labor Day when it was originally proposed by the union. It is dubbed as the “workingmen’s holiday” starting in New York and other cities following their example.

As the labor organizations grew, the idea spread and it became a federal holiday in 1894 following the death of a number of workers during the Pullman Strike at the hands of the U.S. military and US Marshals. President Grover Cleveland put the labor movement as a top political priority in reconciliation. Congress rushed and unanimously signed it into law because of the fear of conflict and in a mere six days became law after the end of the strike. By June 28, 1894 Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.

The first celebration came in the form of a street parade to show the public the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations which then followed with a festival for the workers and their families. The festivities grew and through the years speeches by prominent men and women were later introduced as the economic and civil significance of the holiday was emphasized.

As is tradition, Labor Day is celebrated by most Americans as a symbolic end of the summer. Americans rush in their campers, boats, RVs to remote and favorite vacation spots to take advantage of this last weekend preceding the Monday holiday and enjoying the last of summer weather.

In the US, Labor Day also marks the beginning of the NFL and college football seasons, usually with the NCAA playing their first game the week before Labor Day and the NFL playing their first game the following Thursday after Labor Day.

So enjoy the last of the summer season, pack yourself on the back for the contribution you as an American laborer have given to the growth, economic, prosperity and strength of our country.

ShirLee McGarry® with Principal Realty Group is a freelance writer in Utah
Photos from Fotosearch stock photography