Today, the United States, Puerto Rico, the canal zone, and the virgin islands celebrated their labor day. However, the USA celebrates on the first Monday of September, and this year it falls on September 6.
For most citizens, labor day meant two things: a day off from hectic life and a way to say goodbye to summer.
The day is a tribute to working men and women for their contribution to society and the country as a whole.
Labor Day is celebrated for workers’ and the labor force’s achievements. The primary purpose of Labor Day is to honor and recognize America’s labor movement and the valuable contribution of American workers in the country’s success over the years. Initially, the holiday was taken by workers due to strikes and rallies.
Labour day is one of the 11 federal holidays given in the USA, which means all nonessential federal government workers are paid off. Many private companies also provide paid-off to their employees on labor day.
While, of course, millions of Americans still work on labor day, considering their essential field of work.
Like any other special day, labor day was started by someone. History and record say that founders of the American federation labor, general secretary of the brotherhood of carpenters and joiners: Peter J McGuire suggested the day to honor working individuals. However, many believe not Peter but Matthew Maguire, a machinist who started the day in 1882, as the research says.
In 1882, New York City celebrated the first labor day on September 5 Tuesday.
While in 1881, the first Monday of September was selected as the working men’s holiday. Many organizations started celebrating as requested by a central labor union.
The year 1885 and 1886 was the time when the USA government recognized and supported the day.
Why is Labor day celebrated?
Labour day is originated from America’s most dismal history chapters.
During the late 1880s, when the industrial revolution was at its peak in the USA, the Americans worked seven days a week and 12 hours a day to earn a basic living on average.
Despite the restrictions, children of age 5 or 6 worked in toilet mills, mines, and factories in some states across the country. People from poor backgrounds and recent immigration face unsafe working environments and have insufficient access to breaks, sanitary facilities, and freshwater.
During 18 century, after an increase in supplanted agriculture in America, labor unions became more local and prominent.
They started organizing rallies and strikes to oppose the poor working conditions and low pays.
Many such events turned violent, including Haymarket Riot, in which various Chicago workers and police officers were killed. Similar events gave rise to the tradition of September 5, 1882, the first labor day parade in the history of the USA, when ten thousand workers took an unpaid holiday to march in New York from city hall to union square under the sponsorship of Knights of labor. Although there was no particular day back then, the knights of labor first adopted the resolution of celebrating the first Monday of September as labor day; later, many states passed bills in the legislature to give recognition to the day. However, it took years for them to announce the official holiday on Labor Day.
How do people in the USA celebrate Labor day?
Cities and towns across the United States celebrate labor day with parades, barbecues, fireworks displays, picnics, and various other public gatherings. For many Americans, Labor day is a chance to say goodbye to the long summer, and for children, it’s time to go back to school.
