Labor Day in America is celebrated on the first Monday of the month of September. The first Labor Day was celebrated in 1882, Tuesday September 5^th, to honor and recognize the contributions by the ordinary worker to economic development of the USA.

There’s some debate over how Labor Day originated. Some say the Labor Day was an idea of Peter J. McGuire, of New York, who was the general secretary of Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and the American Federation of Labor co-founder. Others speculate that the father of Labor Day was machinist called Matthew Maguire who was the secretary of the International Association of Machinists  in Paterson, N.J.

Labor Day was first made a state holiday in 1887 in Oregon. By 1894 more than half of the states in the USA had adopted this holiday. On June 28, 1984, the US Congress passed an act which officially made Labor Day a national holiday on the first Monday in September.

How Americans Celebrate Labor Day

Early celebrations of Labor Day included marches and gatherings by workers acknowledged and celebrated the millions of workers right across the USA. Today it is a more family orientated day, with family gatherings and BBQs, although the day is still celebrated in many cities and towns of America with speeches and parades.

Labor Day speeches pay tribute to hard working Americans. Many people take the opportunity to have a travel getaway with family. Others choose to give back working with charities and the homeless.

Falling on a Monday, Labor Day  week-end becomes a long week-end and so is a time for relaxation, traveling and fun, but it is good to remind ourselves that it was thousands, if not millions, of hard working laborers from all over the world who made such a huge contribution to the creation of what America is today.

 Have a fun and relaxing Labor Day Week-end!