What Is Labor Day, and Why Do We Celebrate It?
Updated: Jul. 22, 2024
What is Labor Day, exactly? Here's how it started, when it's celebrated and what it means to us today.
For many, Labor Day is a three-day weekend that helps us celebrate the conclusion of a great summer with a party and some tasty grilled food. But what is Labor Day, really?
There’s so much more to Labor Day than the weekend getaways and the funny (but relatable) Labor Day memes we see online. In fact, as its name implies, the holiday has historical roots in the labor movement. Still wondering, What is Labor Day, anyway? Read on to learn more about what the holiday is, when it is and why we celebrate it each year.
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What is Labor Day?
Labor Day is a national holiday in the United States. On Labor Day, we remember the work of those in the labor movement who fought hard for workers’ rights. We also celebrate the essential role workers play in America’s growth and development—recognition that some fought tirelessly for and that these Labor Day quotes honor.
When is Labor Day?
Labor Day always takes place on the first Monday in September. Labor Day 2024 is on Monday, Sept. 2.
Does Labor Day change every year?
Yes, Labor Day’s date changes every year. That’s because it falls on the first Monday in September. Labor Day will take place on the following dates in the next few years:
- 2025: Monday, Sept. 1
- 2026: Monday, Sept. 7
- 2027: Monday, Sept. 6
- 2028: Monday, Sept. 4
What is the history of Labor Day’s founding?
The history of Labor Day starts with the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries. During this time, a vast array of jobs and commerce were brought to the United States. What the Industrial Revolution didn’t bring was appropriate pay, safety regulations or commonsense guidelines for the number of hours people should work each day and each week. To put things in perspective, the average American worked 12-hour days, seven days a week, at the height of the Industrial Revolution. It also wasn’t uncommon to see young children doing hard labor in harsh working conditions for minuscule pay.
People noticed these poor conditions, though. Labor unions slowly started to form and fight for American workers’ rights to fair pay, fair hours and safe working conditions. Strikes and rallies were organized, and they sometimes turned violent. During this heady time, the idea for Labor Day was formed. The holiday was designed to acknowledge the contributions American workers have made to our country.
Who was the founder of Labor Day?
The father of Labor Day could be one of two men: Peter J. McGuire, a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, 0r Matthew Maguire, secretary of the Central Labor Union of New York. Yep, our two leading contenders have almost-identical last names.
Both men were present at the nation’s first Labor Day parade in New York City, but recent studies are leaning more toward Maguire. In fact, the New Jersey Historical Society reports that after President Cleveland signed the legislation establishing Labor Day as a national holiday, the Paterson Morning Call published an editorial asserting that “the souvenir pen should go to Alderman Matthew Maguire of this city, who is the undisputed author of Labor Day as a holiday.” Based on this, it seems more likely that Maguire was the founder of Labor Day.Â
When was the first Labor Day parade?
The first Labor Day parade was held in New York City on Sept. 5, 1882. New York’s Central Labor Union held a parade to celebrate union work and show support for all unions. More than 10,000 union workers took unpaid time off work to march from City Hall to Union Square.
When did Labor Day become an official holiday?
Numerous states recognized the holiday in the 1880s, but it didn’t become an official national holiday until President Grover Cleveland signed it into law in June 1894.
President Cleveland signed the law in the midst of the Pullman Strike, a railroad strike in which workers protested reduced wages and the non-reduction of rent in their living area. The walkout started in Chicago and quickly sparked a nationwide railroad strike, which turned deadly in July 1894 when the National Guard clashed with protesters in the Windy City.
What’s the difference between Labor Day and International Workers’ Day?
There are a few differences between Labor Day and International Workers’ Day, more commonly known as May Day. One difference is that, unlike Labor Day, May Day is celebrated on May 1 each year. Another is that Labor Day is celebrated only in the United States and Canada, while May Day is celebrated in European, Asian and Latin American countries (in more than 160 countries, to be more precise).
However, like Labor Day, May Day has a long history. Its roots lie in ancient pagan festivals, but it took on a new meaning in the 1880s. On May 1, 1886, more than 300,000 workers across the United States participated in a strike demanding an eight-hour workday. The strike grew within the next few days, and the protests turned deadly during the Haymarket Riot in Chicago on May 4. In 1890, more than 300,000 people protested at a May Day rally in London. Since then, it’s been recognized as an official holiday in various countries, but the United States is not one of them.
What are popular Labor Day traditions?
Every holiday has its fun traditions, and Labor Day is no exception. Here are some common Labor Day traditions people take part in:
Parades
Many cities and towns have parades to celebrate Labor Day. The parade may even be part of a bigger Labor Day festival the area holds, and you may even see homes decked out with Labor Day decorations.
Picnics
If the weather is nice enough, many people like to pack a picnic and eat outside with loved ones.
Barbecues
There’s still time to fire up the grill on Labor Day! Many spend the day grilling hot dogs, hamburgers, ribs, chicken and many side dishes.
Fireworks
What’s a celebration without fireworks? Expect to see color fill up the sky, courtesy of Labor Day firework displays.
Travel
Labor Day weekend is historically a popular time to travel, with people heading to lakes and beaches for one last summer hurrah.
Storing white clothing
Yep, it’s an old piece of fashion advice that you’re not supposed to wear white after Labor Day, so some people put away their white clothing until next year.
Many people consider Labor Day the unofficial end of summer, so it’s also common to see people cover up their pool or store their boat when Labor Day weekend concludes.
What are fun facts about Labor Day?
Need more Labor Day trivia? Share these facts at the barbecue:
- Canada celebrated Labor Day before the United States. The first Canadian Labor Day—make that Labour Day—was in 1872, 10 years before the United States caught on.
- Oregon was the first state to recognize the holiday. It made Labor Day a legal holiday on Feb. 21, 1887. That same year, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York also legally adopted the holiday.
- Labor Day unofficially marks the end of peak hot dog season. Americans typically eat 7 billion hot dogs between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
- Labor Day is tied with Memorial Day as the second most popular holiday for grilling.
- It’s estimated that more than 166 million people make up the U.S. civilian labor force.
- 16.2 million American wage and salary workers belonged to unions in 2023.
- At the time of this writing, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. In 1938, when the federal minimum wage was established, it was 25 cents per hour.
- As of January 2024, the District of Columbia has the highest state minimum wage in the United States at $17 per hour. Washington is second at $15.74 per hour.
- Professional football in the United States historically kicks off after Labor Day weekend. The first NFL game of the 2024 season is slated for Thursday, Sept. 5, as Super Bowl champs the Kansas City Chiefs play an AFC title rematch against the Baltimore Ravens.
And with that, you can now celebrate Labor Day knowing there were people fighting for your right to earn a livable wage and work in a safe environment.
Additional reporting by Corey Whelan.
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Sources:
- U.S. Department of Labor: “The Real Maguire—Who Actually Invented Labor Day?”
- Canada’s History: “The First Labour Day”
- History.com: “Labor Day 2024”
- Statista: “Minimum wage rates in the United States in 2024, by state”
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: “Union Members – 2023”
- AFL-CIO: “Peter J. McGuire”
- The New Jersey Historical Society: “Matthew Maguire, Father of Labor Day?”
- U.S. Department of Labor: “History of Labor Day”
- History.com: “May Day”
- U.S. Department of Labor: “History of Federal Minimum Wage Rates Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, 1938–2009”
