Labor Day facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Labor Day
Labor Day Parade in New York's Union Square, 1882
Observed by	United States
Type	National
Celebrations	Parades, barbecues
Date	First Monday in September
2024 date	September 2  (2024-09-02)
2025 date	September 1  (2025-09-01)
2026 date	September 7  (2026-09-07)
2027 date	September 6  (2027-09-06)
Frequency	Annual
Related to	Labour Day

Labor Day is a special holiday in the United States. It happens on the first Monday of September each year. This day celebrates all the hard work that people do across the country. It honors the American labor movement and how workers have helped make the U.S. strong and successful.

Labor Day is part of a long weekend called Labor Day Weekend. It's a federal holiday, which means most people get the day off from work and school.

The idea for Labor Day started in the late 1800s. As groups of workers, called trade unions and labor movements, grew, they wanted a day to celebrate their efforts. The Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor helped organize the first Labor Day parade in New York City. In 1887, Oregon was the first state to make Labor Day an official holiday. By 1894, when it became a national holiday, 30 states were already celebrating it.

Did you know that Canada also celebrates Labour Day on the first Monday of September? Many other countries celebrate a similar holiday called International Workers' Day on May 1st. This date was chosen to remember events that happened in Chicago in 1886, especially the Haymarket affair.

History of Labor Day

How Labor Day Started

In the late 1800s, workers in the U.S. began forming groups called unions. These unions wanted to improve working conditions and pay. People started thinking about having a special day to celebrate workers.

There are two main ideas about who first suggested Labor Day in September. One idea is that Matthew Maguire, a leader from the Central Labor Union in New York, proposed it. This was after a big parade of workers in New York City in September 1882. He thought the first Monday of September would be a great day for a national holiday.

P. J. McGuire, Vice President of the American Federation of Labor, is often called the "father of Labor Day" in the United States.

Another idea is that Peter J. McGuire came up with the idea. He was a vice president of the American Federation of Labor. In May 1882, he suggested a "general holiday for the laboring classes" to the Central Labor Union. He thought the day should start with a parade to show how strong workers were. Then, there would be a picnic where unions could raise money. McGuire suggested the first Monday in September because the weather is usually nice. It also falls between the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving holidays.

Early Labor Day celebrations often included speeches from important labor leaders. In 1909, the American Federation of Labor suggested the Sunday before Labor Day be called "Labor Sunday." This day was meant to focus on the spiritual and educational side of the labor movement. However, it never became as popular as Labor Day itself.

Becoming a Legal Holiday

In 1887, Oregon was the first state to make Labor Day an official holiday. By 1894, when Labor Day became a federal holiday for the whole country, 30 states were already celebrating it. Today, every U.S. state, along with the District of Columbia and U.S. territories, celebrates Labor Day.

Labor Day vs. May Day

You might wonder why Labor Day in the U.S. is in September, not May 1st. May 1st is known as International Workers' Day in many other countries. This date became important in 1886 when the American Federation of Labor called for an eight-hour day to start on May 1st.

The date May 1st also became linked to the Haymarket affair. This was a violent event in Chicago on May 4, 1886, during a workers' protest. Some labor unions wanted to celebrate workers on May 1st because of its strong meaning.

However, U.S. President Grover Cleveland was worried that a May 1st holiday would remind people too much of the Haymarket affair. He thought it might make socialist and anarchist groups stronger. So, in 1887, he supported the September Labor Day holiday instead. This date was officially made a U.S. federal holiday in 1894.

The Unofficial End of Summer

Labor Day is often called the "unofficial end of summer." This is because it marks the end of the summer season for many people. Lots of families take their last summer vacations around Labor Day weekend.

Many schools start classes around the Labor Day holiday. Some schools begin the week before, making Labor Day weekend their first three-day break. Others start the Tuesday after Labor Day. This gives families one last chance for a getaway before school begins. In some states, like Virginia, laws even require schools to start after Labor Day. This helps amusement parks have more visitors during the summer. This law is sometimes called the "Kings Dominion law."

In Minnesota, the famous Minnesota State Fair always ends on Labor Day. State law usually prevents public schools from starting until after the holiday. This allows kids to show their 4-H projects at the fair.

Labor Day weekend also marks the start of many fall sports. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) college football teams often play their first games that weekend. The National Football League (NFL) usually kicks off its season the Thursday after Labor Day. Big car races and drag races also happen on Labor Day weekend. The U.S. Open Tennis Championships in New York are also in full swing during this time.

In fashion, Labor Day used to be considered the last day when it was okay to wear white clothes.

Many people celebrate Labor Day weekend by going to beaches or having barbecues. Cities often have special events and activities. For example, New York City might have a Labor Day Carnival or fireworks. Washington, D.C., often hosts a free Labor Day Concert at the U.S. Capitol.

Labor Day Sales

Because many people have time off, Labor Day weekend is a big time for shopping. Many stores offer special sales, especially for back-to-school items. Some stores say it's one of their busiest sale weekends of the year, second only to Black Friday during the Christmas season.

Images for kids

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  Labor Day parade on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. around 1894

See also

In Spanish: Labor Day para niños