You Are In: USINFO > Topics > U.S. Life, Culture and History > Holidays

Labor Day Marks Appreciation of U.S. Workers

Members of the operating engineers Local 547 march in the Labor Day Parade, Detroit, Michigan, September 2, 2002. (© AP Images)

By Michael Jay Friedman
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- Labor Day, celebrated in the United States on the first Monday of each September, is the nation's official commemoration of its workers' contributions to national strength, prosperity and well-being. It also marks for millions of Americans the unofficial end of summer, a long weekend to visit with family or friends, and, for most of the young, a last day of summer vacation before a new school year begins.

While the holiday's origins have not been determined precisely, scholars typically credit either of two labor union officials -- Peter J. McGuire of the carpenters' union or Matthew Maguire of a machinists' local in Paterson, New Jersey -- with the idea.

The first Labor Day commemoration occurred in New York City, on September 5, 1882. The date apparently was chosen because it was about halfway between the July 4 holiday and Thanksgiving. The occasion was marked by a parade, sponsored by the Knights of Labor (an early U.S. labor organization) and about 10,000 workers marched.

The next day's New York Times reported that "those who rode or marched in the procession were cheerful, and evidently highly gratified with the display. … The great majority smoked cigars, and all seemed bent upon having a good time at the picnic grounds." Banners called for "Eight Hours for a Legal Day's Work" and "Less Hours and More Pay."

The Knights organized another parade the following year, and in 1884 they adopted a resolution calling for recognition of the first Monday of September as Labor Day. By 1894, some 28 states celebrated Labor Day and in that year Congress adopted legislation establishing the legal holiday.

MAY DAY CONTRASTED

A number of European and other nations celebrate an International Workers' Day on the first of May, often known as May Day. Timed to commemorate the labor violence that culminated in the Chicago Haymarket Riot of 1886, May Day often featured organized street demonstrations and, on occasion, acts of political violence.

It was probably for this reason that U.S. political leaders came to support the movement for a September and not a May Day holiday. Regardless of its origins, American workers always have seen "their" holiday as an opportunity for rest, relaxation and fun. As the New York Times reported of the first Labor Day parade, "It was said that the absence of many members of the organizations was due to the fact that they preferred to enjoy the day in quiet excursions to Coney Island, Glen Island [resorts] and elsewhere."

THE UNOFFICIAL END OF SUMMER

Picnics, barbeques and sporting events are among today's holiday traditions. Labor Day traditionally has marked the end of the summer, and in much of the country, Americans crowd community swimming pools and beach facilities for one last dip before those facilities close until the following Memorial Day.

In sports, Labor Day begins the culminating phase of major league baseball's pennant race, and also the last weekend before the National Football League season begins. Many political experts suggest Labor Day marks the beginning of the election campaign season (U.S. elections are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, i.e. on the Tuesday that falls between November 2 and November 8) and many candidates oblige by delivering major speeches on the holiday.

Another tradition is the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) telethon. Held each year since 1966 and hosted by entertainer Jerry Lewis, the telethon intersperses performances by major entertainers with requests for donations to fund MDA's fight against more than 40 neuromuscular diseases. A quarter-million volunteers monitor the telephones to register pledges, which in 2005 totaled some $54.9 million, while more than 50 million North Americans watch at least some of the show.

Speaking in Ohio in 2003, President George W. Bush captured the essence of Labor Day when he said, "This country prospers because of people who give their best effort every day to support their families, to go to work, to make America a better place."