Today is Labor Day, a U.S. public holiday celebrated on the first Monday in September. It honors the American labor movement and the contributions that its workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of their country.Labor Day was promoted by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor, who organized the first parade in NYC to celebrate union membership. After the May 1886 Haymarket Square Riot in Chicago, U.S. President Grover Cleveland feared that commemorating Labor Day in May could become an opportunity to commemorate the affair. Inn 1887, the U.S. holiday was established in September to support the Labor Day that the Knights favored.
Oregon was the first state to grant legal status to the holiday in 1887 followed by Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Colorado. By the time it became a federal holiday in 1894, 30 states officially celebrated Labor Day. In 1956, the U.S. postal system issued a 3-cent postage stamp commemorating Labor Day.
Today, Labor Day is associated with the end of the summer season, although summer officially ends Sept 21. The holiday weekend has become a major shopping time; many schools resume classes before or immediately after the 3-day holiday weekend.
Our northern neighbor, Canada, celebrates Labour Day the first Monday of September. More than 80 other countries celebrate International Workers' Day on May 1 as their holiday dedicated to labor.
(The poster image is is in the public domain from the U.S. National Archives with no known copyright restrictions. It's from a series based on a World War II poster created by the Office for Emergency Management. Office of War Information, Domestic Operations Branch. Bureau of Special Services (1943-19450. The original poster title was "Free Labor Will Win, 1942-1945")
However you spend the day, take time to remember its significance.
7 comments:
all good things happen on sept 5th, the day of my birth and i did not realize i shared it with the first labor day. day not year.. ha
I used to enjoy the parade, none this year.Another laid away holiday
Glad I found your blog. Was reaching out for some new folks that wrote frequently and glad I found some that do! So I will follow! We are enjoying having the extra time ourselves on this Labor Day weekend. Love the 4 day work weeks when we can get them. It should be that way every week. ha.
The importance of this holiday is to remember the contributions working people make to our lives. It is also important to make sure that workers are properly compensated for their efforts. Happy Labor Day.
I hope you had a great Labor Day!
Happy Tuesday!
With love,
Suzy ( ˘ ³˘)♥
THE KAWAII PLANET
Happy Labour day to you both !
There was a parade here yesterday, and quite a sizable one.
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