Do your kids understand why there’s no school and no mail on Labor Day? You don’t have to work too hard learn some fun facts about Labor Day the holiday that we in the United States celebrate on the first Monday in September.
1. Labor Day was first observed in the United States in New York City on September 5, 1882. It was a time when conditions in the work place were poor for many people and Labor Day was not just a day off, but a chance to address important issues like better working conditions and salaries.
2. Canada celebrated Labor Day earlier, however, by holding a demonstration for workers rights in Toronto 1872.
3. Oregon was the first state to recognize Labor Day as a legal holiday, passing a state law to that effect in 1887.
4. Labor Day did not become a national holiday until seven years later.
5. In 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed a bill making Labor Day a federal holiday.
6. Christmas, the Fourth of July and every other Sunday were the only days employees did not have to work in 1882. Twelve hour work days were common.
7. In the late 1800’s, many children worked grueling jobs in factories and even mines. Some of them were as young as age 5. The movement to observe Labor Day also went with a movement to protect workers and recognize that they have rights, including children. Your kids show know that they have reason to celebrate Labor Day
8. Labor Day is celebrated in September because the founders of the holidays (likely Peter McGuire, though that’s up for some debate), believed it would be good to have a holiday between the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving.
9. The United States Department of Labor was not created until 1913.
10. Other nations celebrate Labor Day, but many do so on May 1st, not in September. May 1, also called May Day or International Workers Day, is a popular time for rallies by workers in Europe.
11. In 2014, Labor Day falls on September 1st, the earliest possible date. In 2015, Labor Day falls on September 7.
Labor Day has taken on cultural significance in the United States separate from that associated with the work force. It signifies the start of school (the day after Labor Day) in some part of the country, the start of the college football season, and the end to summer vacation.
Happy Labor Day weekend – enjoy the break!
Sources: Forbes; Tween Us; The Library of Congress
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