What Is Labor Day?

Labor Day is a national holiday in the United States observed on the first Monday of September each year. In 2024, Labor Day will be celebrated on September 2. This day honors the contributions and achievements of American workers and has its roots in the late 19th-century labor movement.

Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer in the U.S., with many people using the long weekend for final summer vacations before the school year begins. The holiday also coincides with the start of the American football season. It is a popular time for picnics, parades, and sports events, as well as a period of increased travel and congestion on highways and at airports.

History of Labor Day

The origins of Labor Day are deeply embedded in the labor movement’s efforts to improve working conditions in America. The first Labor Day celebration took place on September 5, 1882, with a parade organized by the Central Labor Union in New York City. Oregon was the first state to officially recognize Labor Day as a holiday in 1887, and by the end of the year, other states followed suit. President Grover Cleveland established it as a federal holiday in 1894.

Who Founded Labor Day?

The precise origin of Labor Day is somewhat unclear. Some sources attribute the proposal of the holiday to Matthew Maguire, who was serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in 1882. Others credit Peter J. McGuire, co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, with the idea. The holiday was scheduled for the first Monday in September to provide a politically neutral alternative to International Workers’ Day, which is celebrated on May 1, and to bridge the gap between Independence Day and Thanksgiving.