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Labor Day

Take A Break

Man outside holding a hard hat with the American flag over his shoulder with his back to the camera.

This could be a great Labor Day year: unemployment is low, hiring is brisk and the U.S. workforce is more engaged than it’s been in years. Plus, we haven’t yet blown all our money on the holidays.

Did you know that the first observance of Labor Day was likely on Sept. 5, 1882, when some 10,000 workers assembled in New York City for a parade? According to the U.S. Census Bureau, this was the likely birth of our end-of-summer holiday.

The 1882 parade inspired similar events across the country, and by 1894 more than half the states were observing a ‘workingmen’s holiday’ on one day or another.

Later that year, with Congress passing legislation and President Grover Cleveland signing the bill on June 29, the first Monday in September was designated ‘Labor Day.’

This national holiday is a creation of the labor movement in the late 19th century and pays tribute to the social and economic achievements of workers in America.

So, now that you know the history, enjoy your Labor Day!