Americans celebrate Labor Day every first Monday of
September. This holiday celebrates the efforts of workers with most workers and
students getting the day off.
A machinist named Matthew Maguire, secretary of the New
York Central Labor Union, proposed a Labor Day holiday in 1882. Some believe it
was actually Peter J. McGuire of the American Federation of Labor that proposed
the holiday that same year. It became a federal holiday in 1894, but 30 states
had already recognized the holiday individually.
The holiday tradition is also owed to the Knights of
Labor, who held a large labor themed parade in 1882. Other labor associations
continued to make Labor Day celebrations popular.
Many observers relax at home or head to outdoor
recreational activities, such as boating, barbecues, and camping. It is a day
to celebrate the end of summer, as many schoolchildren start school after Labor
Day. It may also be marked with firework shows and other patriotic events.
Parades are the most common mode of celebration, which
often feature processions of labor groups. One of the larger parades is held in
Brooklyn. The parade boasts up to three million participants from a
variety of ethnic groups.
