From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the holiday in the United States. For other annual
labor observances, see Labour Day. For observances on May 1, see May
Day.

Date

first Monday in September

2008 date

September 1, 2008

2009 date

September 7, 2009

Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first
Monday in September. The holiday originated in 1882 as the Central Labor
Union (of New York City) sought to create "a day off for the working
citizens".

Congress made Labor Day a federal holiday in 1894. All fifty states have
made Labor Day a state holiday.

Traditionally, Labor Day is celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic
end of the summer.

Labor Day has been celebrated on the first Monday in September in the
United States since the 1880s. The form for the celebration of Labor Day
was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday—a street parade to
exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and
labor organizations," followed by a festival for the workers and their
families. This became the pattern for Labor Day celebrations. Speeches
by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was
placed upon the economic and civil significance of the holiday. Still
later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of
1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and
dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor
movement.

Today, Labor Day is often regarded as a day of rest and compared to the
May 1 Labour Day celebrations in most countries; parades, speeches or
political demonstrations are more low-key, although events held by labor
organizations often feature political themes and appearances by
candidates for office, especially in election years. Forms of
celebration include picnics, barbecues, fireworks displays, water
sports, and public art events. Families with school-age children take it
as the last chance to travel before the end of summer. Some teenagers
and young adults view it as the last weekend for parties before
returning to school. However, as of late, schools have begun well before
Labor Day, as early as July 24th in many urban districts, including
major southern cities in the United States such as Atlanta, Miami, and
Los Angeles. In addition, Labor Day marks the beginning of the season
for the National Football League and NCAA College Football. The NCAA
usually plays their first games the weekend of Labor day, with the NFL
traditionally playing their first game the Thursday following Labor Day.

Controversies

The Knights of Labor organized the original parade on Tuesday, September
5, 1882 in New York City. In 1884 another parade was held, and the
Knights passed resolutions to make this an annual event. Other labor
organizations (and there were many), but notably the affiliates of the
International Workingmen's Association, many of whom were socialists or
anarchists, favored a May 1 holiday. In 1886 came the general strike
which eventually won the eight-hour workday in the United States. These
events are today commemorated as Labor Day in virtually every country in
the world, with the notable exceptions being the United States, Canada,
Australia and New Zealand. With the Chicago Haymarket riots in early May
of 1886, President Grover Cleveland believed that commemorating Labor
Day on May 1 could become an opportunity to commemorate the riots. Thus,
fearing that it might strengthen the socialist movement, he quickly
moved in 1887 to support the position of the Knights of Labor and their
date for Labor Day.

More than 100 years after the first Labor Day observance, there is still
some doubt as to who first proposed the holiday for workers. Some
records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood
of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of
Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those "who from rude
nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold."

But Peter McGuire's place in Labor Day history has not gone
unchallenged. Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter
McGuire, founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the
contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the
International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the
holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in
New York. What is clear is that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor
Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and
picnic.

Labor Day traditions

Since 1966, the annual telethon of the Muscular Dystrophy Association
has been held on Labor Day weekend. The telethon, hosted by Jerry Lewis,
raises tens of millions of dollars each year to fund research and
patient support programs for the various diseases grouped as muscular
dystrophy.

Labor Day weekend also marked the annual running of the Southern 500 at
Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. The race was run at
any time during the weekend from 1950-2002. In 2004, NASCAR began racing
on Labor Day weekend at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.

Chicago's Taste of Polonia, the city's largest Polish-themed festival
celebration of Polish cultural heritage, traditions, and customs on the
grounds of the Copernicus Foundation in Jefferson Park. Bringing in
crowds well over 30,000 each year, Taste of Polonia has welcomed notable
guests such as President George H. W. Bush in 1992 and Vice-President
Dick Cheney, Mrs. Tipper Gore, and Mrs. Hadassah Lieberman in 2000.

Boomsday, one of the biggest fireworks displays in the Southeastern
United States, has been held annually on Labor Day since 1986 in
Knoxville, Tennessee; it attracts over 350,000 spectators.

Mackinac Bridge Walk is an annual event held every Labor Day since 1958
in Michigan in which people may walk the length of the Mackinac Bridge.

Mustaches on the River is an annual event that takes place Labor Day
weekend. Traditionally participants grow mustaches for this float down
the Russian River in Healdsburg, California. Mustaches are judged at the
end of the day and all proceeds benefit charity. The event is seen by
its participants as an exercise in self image and free expression.

Cleveland has showcased its aviation history with the Cleveland National
Air Show each labor day weekend since the late 60's. Begining in 1995,
the Taste of Cleveland also highlights Cleveland's restraunts each labor
day weekend.

Popular fashion etiquette dictates that white should not be worn after
Labor Day. Originally it was white shoes that were taboo— white or
"winter white" clothing was acceptable. The custom is fading: "Fashion
magazines are jumping on this growing trend, calling people who 'dare'
to wear white after Labor Day innovative, creative, and bold. Slowly but
surely, white is beginning to break free from its box, and is becoming
acceptable to wear whenever one pleases. In the world of western attire,
it is similarly tradition to wear a straw cowboy hat until Labor Day.
After Labor Day, the felt hat is worn until Memorial Day."



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