Labor Day

Labor Day is celebrated every year in September, on the first Monday. The following countries join in the celebration – the USA, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and Canada. In a number of countries, for example, in China, there is a similar holiday – May Day, celebrated on the first day of May.

History

Many people treat Labor Day as another weekend on the calendar. On this day, they say goodbye to summer and greet fall. But where did labor come from? Why is it on the first Monday of September that men and women of working professions are honored? It turns out Labor Day has been celebrated in the US and Canada since 1894. The holiday is fundamentally different from other events on the holiday calendar. The main difference is that this day does not glorify any person, any religion, or race. There is no reliable data about the founder of the holiday. According to some sources, Labor Day was founded by Peter J. McGuire, who was an active citizen, the general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters, and co-founder of the federation of labor in America.

Interesting Facts

• Now May Day is now a holiday dedicated to trade unions and workers, but originally May 1 was the day of spring and the expectation of summer.
• There is a version that the founder of the holiday is not Peter J. McGuire, but Matthew Maguire, who worked as a machinist, and in 1882 established the event, being the secretary of the union in New York.
• The event was celebrated for the first time in 1882 in New York. It was organized by the Central Workers’ Union.
• Two years later, in 1884, the holiday became a day off.

How to take part

According to statistics, many families spend this day outdoors; support this idea and organize a picnic. You can go shopping, because many retail stores remain open. Be sure to read about the history of the holiday: the labor movement has been active in America for many years. Support American workers and buy some US-made goods. And in the evening, plan to watch a film about labor unions.

When is Labor Day celebrated in 2023?

Labor Day is observed on the first Monday of September each year.

Observations