Information on Labor Day
Labor Day in the United States is a federal legal holiday, celebrated on the first Monday in September. In 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed legislation that instituted Labor Day as a national holiday.
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History
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The tradition of the Labor Day holiday is believed to stem from a Knights of Labor parade in New York City in 1882. The parade was held on the first Monday in September to honor working Americans.
Geography
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Two years later, New York City became the first U.S. city to actually celebrate Labor Day, a result of its workers trying to protect their rights and get better working conditions.
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Significance
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Workers at Pullman Railway Company in Pullman, Illinois, held a huge strike in 1894, and U.S. deputy marshals killed two workers. It was an election year, and most historians believe Labor Day became a national holiday for political reasons to appease workers.
Fun Fact
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Early American companies demanded long work hours and scorned leisure time. Fun and play were considered counterproductive. This was the general philosophy of companies from the late 1770s through much of the 19th century. Workers protested by drinking, sleeping and performing shoddy work.
Effects
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Today, the nation continues to honor working men and women on Labor Day. Business and union leaders and governmental officials receive national media coverage to remind the nation of its roots.
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