Labor Day is an American holiday celebrated each year to honor those workers who have dedicated their lives to the advancement of this country. People across the nation have toiled diligently in order for America to prosper and grow. Labor Day is a day set aside to honor each and every worker across this nation.
The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated in New York City on Tuesday, September 5th, 1882. The Central Labor Union organized the event to include a parade, festivities and speeches. In 1883, the Labor Day holiday was again celebrated on September 5th which was a Wednesday. It was in 1884 that the Labor Day holiday celebration was switched to the first Monday in September and has been celebrated on that day since then.
The official governmental recognition of Labor Day occurred in the state of Oregon. On February 21, 1887, Oregon passed legislation recognizing Labor Day as a holiday. Other states soon followed and by 1894, there were enough states officially recognizing Labor Day as a holiday that the federal government finally gave the official nod. On June 28, 1894, Congress officially stated that a Labor Day holiday be celebrated each year on the first Monday of September.
Throughout time, the concept of Labor Day has changed. In the beginning, Labor Day began as a labor union holiday for workers but in today’s society, Labor Day is considered the end of the summer season. Families and friends gather for a last celebration of the summer season by cooking on the barbeque grill, playing volley ball games and enjoying other fun outdoor activities before winter comes.
Another concept which has been altered pertains to women’s clothing. Many women believed that white patent leather shoes should not be worn after Labor Day. Some believed that white clothing should not be worn after Labor Day. As these clothing “rules” were in the past, most women of today wear any color of clothing they choose during any time of the year.
| Day Name | Date | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | September 5 | 2011 |
| Monday | September 3 | 2012 |
| Monday | September 2 | 2013 |
| Monday | September 1 | 2014 |
| Monday | September 7 | 2015 |