The History of Labor Day
Labor Day differs from other holidays. Most are connected with conflicts and battles of man's prowess over man, of strife and discord for greed and power or glories achieved by one nation over another.
Labor Day is the child of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American Workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well being of our country.
The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City. In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.
By 1894, 23 states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers. On June 28 of that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the all territories.
The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known. This has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership ..... the American Worker.
Happy Labor Day
September 1, 2008
