Labor Day
Date
- In general: the first Monday in September
- 2011 date: September 5
- 2012 date: September 3
- 2013 date: September 2
- 2014 date: September 1
- 2015 date: September 7
History
Labor Day is an annual holiday to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers. The holiday has its origins in the labor union movement, which
advocatedto encourage support for something eight hours for work, eight hours for
recreationany activity, such as play, that diverts, amuses or stimulates, and eight hours for rest.
The first Labor Day in the United States was observed on August 26, 1878, in Boston. It was observed by the Central Labor Union of New York, the nation's first integrated major trade union. It became a federal holiday in 1894, when President Cleveland put
reconciliationthe reestablishment of friendly relations with the labor movement as a top political priority.
Traditional observance
Traditionally, Labor Day is celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer. The holiday is often regarded as a day of rest and parties. Celebrations include picnics, barbecues, fireworks displays, water sports, and public art events. Families with school-age children take it as the last chance to travel before the end of summer recess. Many schools open for the year in the week after Labor Day. In U.S. sports, Labor Day marks the beginning of the NFL and college football seasons.
