Celebrated on the first Monday in September, Labor Day gets its roots from the Nine-Hour Movement in Canada. Peter J. McGuire, an American labor leader, witnessed the parades held in support of a printer’s strike, and returned to New York where he organized the first American Labor Day on September 5th, 1882. It became a federal holiday a couple of years later, and is also a state holiday in every state.
Early Labor Day celebrations were parades and festivals that celebrated the solidarity of the labor movement, but these days most people celebrate the weekend as the end of the summer season. It probably felt a lot more like the end of summer when back-to-school came after the holiday!
Still, many communities have special festivals and celebrations, and it’s a classic weekend for a family road trip, picnic, weekend at the lake, or barbecue.
Whether you’re traveling, involved in community celebrations, or just staying home relaxing and mourning the passage of summer, I wish you all a very happy Labor Day.
Photo credit: SXC
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