For a lot of people, Labor Day means two things: a day off and the end of summer.
But why is it called Labor Day? Labor Day is a day set aside to pay tribute to working men and women. It has been celebrated as a national holiday in the United States and Canada since 1894.
The first Labor Day parade occurred Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City. The workers’ unions chose the first Monday in September because it was halfway between Independence Day and Thanksgiving. The idea spread across the country, and some states designated Labor Day as a holiday before the federal holiday was created.
Membership in labor unions in the United States reached an all-time high in the 1950s when about 40 percent of the work force belonged to unions. Today, union membership is about 14 percent of the working population. Labor Day now carries less significance as a celebration of working people and more as the end of summer. Schools, government offices and businesses are closed on Labor Day so people can get in one last trip to the beach or have one last cookout before the weather starts to turn colder.
Source : TLC
More resources:
- Tips for the Ultimate Labor Day Barbecue here
- 10 Ways To Celebrate Labor Day, Sustainable Style here
-Celebrate Labor Day With Five Hardcore Union Movies here
What does the American expression “We’ll discuss it after Labor Day” mean?