A History of Labor Day -- The Unofficial End of Summer and a Celebration of the American Worker
As we get ready to celebrate Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer,we thought we would share some history as to how the holiday came about. Aside from being the unofficial end of summer, Labor Day also constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well being of our country.
The first Labor Day in the United States was celebrated on Tuesday September 5, 1882 in New York City in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, also on September 5th.
In 1884, the Central Labor Union decided that the first Monday in September should be selected to celebrate the social and economic achievements of American workers. The Central Labor Union urged labor organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a "workmen's holiday" on the first Monday in September. The idea spread with the labor organizations, and in 1885, Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.
The first governmental recognition of Labor Day came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886. From those ordinances came the movement to secure state legislation. The first state bill was introduced into the New York legislature. However, on February 21, 1887, Oregon was the first state to enact into law the Labor Day holiday as the first Monday in September. During the year four more states --Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York --created the Labor Day holiday by legislative enactment. By the end of the decade, Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, twenty three other states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28 of that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal federal holiday.
Originally, the form for the celebration for Labor Day was a street parade to exhibit to the public the strength and spirit of the trade and labor organizations, followed by a festival for the workers and their families. This became the pattern for early day Labor Day celebrations. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civil significance of the holiday.
Today, the holiday is often regarded as a day of rest and parades. Speeches or political demonstrations are more low-key than in the past, although events held by labor organizations often feature political themes and appearances by candidates for office, especially in election years. Forms of celebration include picnics, barbecues, fireworks displays, water sports, and other public events. Families with school age children take it as the last chance to travel before the kids have to return to school.
Finally, as we do celebrate and enjoy the unofficial end of summer, remember that Labor Day is a holiday to pay tribute to the creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership -- the American worker.
We at Brinker Simpson wish you all a safe and happy Labor Day weekend.
