Labor Day History

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The first Labor Day was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882 in New York City. It was organized by the Central Labor Union and was created to be a demonstration supporting labor workers.

Beginning in 1885, government began to recognize Labor Day through municipal ordinances. After that, individual states began passing legislation, beginning with Oregon in 1887. The next four states to pass a law creating the Labor Day Holiday were Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York. By 1894 a total of 28 states had adopted the holiday and on June 28, 1894 Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September a legal holiday in honor of all workers.

Today Labor Day is celebrated as a holiday supporting the labor movement. In the US, less than 15 percent of American workers belong to a union, but we all celebrate the rights of the worker on Labor Day. Many people see Labor Day as the end of the summer season, while Memorial Day is the start of the summer season. Many celebrate Labor Day with bar-be-ques or picnics as a way to say goodbye to summer. Labor Day is also known as May Day in other countries, such as France, Germany and England.

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