Labor Day

The first Monday of September is known as Labor Day in the United States. The trace of the low-key holiday can be found as back to the 1880's. With the full revolution on industry in the year 1880, there came a need for a day that was dedicated to the American laborers who had put their strength, prosperity and well being in the contribution to the country. This gave rise to the birth of concept of Labor Day. Some of the records from history suggest that the first person to propose this holiday was Peter McGuire from Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners. Other traces from history show that Matthew McGuire was the first person who had suggested the holiday in the year 1882 while he was serving as secretary of the Central labor Union in New York. One thing clear from the records is that the Central Labor Union had adopted the proposals and had planned demonstrations along with picnic. The first celebration of Labor Day was done in New York on 5th September in 1882.

Other labor organizations were encouraged by the Central Labor Union so that they should follow the example of Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union celebrated the Labor Day as a holiday in 1883 and 1884 which encouraged others to institute a workingmen's holiday. Mutual Ordnances were passed throughout the country in the year 1885 and 1886 for recognition of Labor Day. After a general strike, an eight-hour day workday was instituted. Oregon was the first state that passed legislation for acknowledgement on February 21, 1887. Other states such as Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York passed similar state laws at a time later that year. In 1894, the Labor Day had become a federal holiday.

Unlike other holidays, Labor Day isn't celebrated to mark the end of a war or to pray tribute to some certain event. Unlike these, the Labor Day celebrated the ordinary worker. This type of celebration and observance of the holiday took the type that was first proposed which included street parade for demonstration of public ‘strength and esprit de corps of labor unions' which was followed by a festival for the families of the workers. Through these years, the Labor Day evolved to a higher position and gained much significance. The European countries celebrate the Labor Day on 1st of the May. The Labor Day holiday is now generally regarded to as the unofficial end of summer and start of the football season. The Muscular Dystrophy telethon by Jerry Lewis is also linked to this holiday through some means.

Labor Day is usually regarded to as day of Rest in most of the nations but low-key activities which include picnics, barbeques and displays of firework are encouraged on this day. Most of the cities are now not able to forgo parades such as the old ways but due to the reason of lack of space. Instead of the old ways, the laborer organizers and officials offer speeches which are covered by a number of newspapers on the radio and television.