What Is Labor Day, and Why Do We Celebrate It?
Updated: Sep. 10, 2023
Labor Day is a hard-won example of how far workers' rights have come since the Industrial Revolution. Here's how it happened, when it's celebrated and what it means to us today.
For many, Labor Day is a three-day weekend that helps us celebrate the conclusion of a great summer with a party and some tasty grilled food. However, there’s so much more to Labor Day than a three-day weekend, Labor Day sales and the Labor Day memes we see online. In fact, as its name alludes to, the holiday has historical roots in the labor movement. Interesting, right? If you’re wondering “What is Labor Day, anyway?” here’s more about what the holiday is, when it is and why we celebrate it each year.
What is Labor Day?
Labor Day is a national holiday in the U.S. On Labor Day, we remember the work of those in the labor movement who fought hard for workers’ rights. We also celebrate the essential role workers play in America’s growth and development—recognition some fought tirelessly for and that these Labor Day quotes honor.
When is Labor Day?
Labor Day always takes place on the first Monday in September. Labor Day 2023 is on Monday, Sept. 4.
Does Labor Day change every year?
Labor Day’s date does change every year, since it falls on the first Monday in September. Labor Day will take place on the following dates in the next few years:
- 2024: Monday, Sept. 2
- 2025: Monday, Sept. 1
- 2026: Monday, Sept. 7
Why do we celebrate Labor Day?
The Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries brought a vast array of jobs and commerce to the United States. What it didn’t bring was appropriate pay, safety regulations or commonsense guidelines for the number of hours people should work each day and each week. To put things in perspective, the average American worked 12-hour days, seven days a week, at the height of the Industrial Revolution. It also wasn’t uncommon to see young children doing hard labor in harsh working conditions for minuscule pay.
People noticed these poor conditions, though. Labor unions slowly started to form and fight for American workers’ rights to fair pay, fair hours and safe working conditions. Strikes and rallies were organized, and they sometimes turned violent. During this heady time, the idea for Labor Day was formed. The holiday was designed as a day of well-deserved acknowledgment for the contributions American workers have made to our country.
The first Labor Day parade was held in New York City on Sept. 5, 1882. New York’s Central Labor Union held a parade to celebrate union work and show support for all unions. More than 10,000 union workers took unpaid time off work to march from City Hall to Union Square.
Numerous states recognized the holiday in the 1880s, but it wasn’t made a national holiday until President Grover Cleveland signed it into law in June 1894. President Cleveland signed the law in the midst of the Pullman Strike, a railroad strike in which workers protested reduced wages and the non-reduction of rent in their living area. The strike started in Chicago and quickly sparked a nationwide railroad strike, which turned deadly in July 1894 when the National Guard clashed with protesters in the Windy City.
Now, you may wonder “Who created Labor Day?” The truth is, it could be one of two men: Peter J. McGuire, who was a co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, 0r Matthew Maguire, who was secretary of the Central Labor Union of New York.
What is the difference between Labor Day and May Day?
Labor Day isn’t the only day that honors the labor force. May Day, also known as International Workers’ Day, is celebrated on May 1 each year.
May Day has a long history, with roots in ancient pagan festivals, but it took on a new meaning in the 1880s. On May 1, 1886, more than 300,000 workers across the United States participated in a strike demanding an eight-hour workday. The strike grew within the next few days, and the protests turned deadly during the Haymarket Riot in Chicago on May 4. The riot itself, along with the controversial trials of the men accused of starting it, stirred up international attention. In 1890, more than 300,000 people protested at a May Day rally in London. Since then, it’s been recognized as an official holiday in 66 countries, but the United States is not one of those countries.
Labor Day traditions
Every holiday has its fun traditions, and Labor Day is no exception. Here are some common Labor Day traditions people take part in:
Parades
Many cities and towns have parades to celebrate Labor Day. The parade may even be part of a bigger Labor Day festival the area holds, and you may even see homes decked out with Labor Day decorations.
Picnics
If the weather is nice enough, many people like to pack a picnic and eat outside with loved ones. Need something to bring? Check out these delicious Labor Day weekend food ideas.
Barbecues
There’s still time to fire up the grill on Labor Day! Many spend the day grilling hot dogs, hamburgers, ribs, chicken and many other grilled side dishes.
Fireworks
What’s a celebration without fireworks? Expect to see color fill up the sky, courtesy of Labor Day firework displays.
Travel
Labor Day weekend is historically a popular time to travel, with people heading to places like the lake or beach for one last summer hurrah.
Storing white clothing
Yep, it’s an old piece of fashion advice that you’re not supposed to wear white after Labor Day, so some people put away their white clothing until next year.
Many people consider Labor Day the unofficial end of summer, so it’s also common to see people cover up their pool or store their boat when Labor Day weekend concludes.
Fun facts about Labor Day
Need more Labor Day trivia? Break out these facts to share at the barbecue:
- Canada celebrated Labor Day before the United States. The first Canadian Labor Day—make that Labour Day—was in 1872, 10 years before the United States caught on.
- Oregon was the first state to recognize the holiday. It made Labor Day a legal holiday on Feb. 21, 1887. That same year, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York also legally adopted the holiday.
- Labor Day isn’t the only federal holiday to fall on a Monday. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day and Memorial Day also fall on Mondays. That’s not a coincidence, though—some of those holidays were moved when The Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 was passed. This legislation was passed so federal employees could have additional three-day weekends.
- Labor Day unofficially marks the end of peak hot dog season. Americans typically eat 7 billion hot dogs between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
- Labor Day is tied with Memorial Day as the second most popular holiday for grilling.
- It’s estimated that more than 166 million people make up the U.S. civilian labor force.
- 14.3 million American wage and salary workers belonged to unions in 2022.
- At the time of this writing, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. In 1938, when the federal minimum wage was established, it was 25 cents per hour.
- As of January 2023, the District of Columbia has the highest state minimum wage in the U.S. at $16.50 per hour. Washington is second at $15.74 per hour.
- While many people consider Labor Day to be the unofficial end of summer, there’s still plenty to celebrate in the month of September. National Hispanic Heritage Month starts Sept. 15, and the first day of fall is Thursday, Sept. 22.
- Professional football in the United States historically kicks off after Labor Day weekend. The first NFL game of the 2023 season is slated for Thursday, Sept. 7, as Super Bowl champs the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Detroit Lions.
Now, you can celebrate Labor Day knowing there were people fighting for your right to earn a livable wage and work in a safe environment. Interested in going out to eat and doing some shopping during the long weekend? Check out which restaurants and stores are open on Labor Day.
Additional reporting by Corey Whelan.
Sources:
- U.S. Department of Labor: “The Real Maguire—Who Actually Invented Labor Day?”
- AFL-CIO: “Peter J. McGuire”
- The New Jersey Historical Society: “Matthew Maguire, Father of Labor Day?”
- U.S. Department of Labor: “History of Labor Day”
- History.com: “Labor Day 2023”
- History.com: “May Day”
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: “Union Members—2022”
- Canada’s History: “The First Labour Day”
- Statista: “Monthly civilian labor force in the United States from June 2021 to June 2023”
- U.S. Department of Labor: “History of Federal Minimum Wage Rates Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, 1938–2009”
- Statista: “State minimum wage rates in the United States as of January 1, 2023, by state”
