Labor Day? What is That? Why do we celebrate Labor Day?

Why would someone want to celebrate working? Most of us who currently have jobs and are working wonder about the saneness of celebrating doing labor.

Would you be shocked to find out that most of the unrest in the World is caused by people who cannot find work?

Labor Day is a Federal Holiday, that is observed on the first Monday in September (September 5 in 2011).

The first Labor Day in the United States was observed on September 5, 1882, in Boston by the nation's first integrated major trade union called the Central Labor Union of New York.

The real reason that it became a Federal Holiday was as always Politically Motivated.

It became a federal holiday in 1894, when the US Military and the US Marshall's Office killed a number of workers while attempting to end  the Pullman Strike, President Grover Cleveland put reconciliation with the labor movement as a top political priority. Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress and was unanimously signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike.

National Guard Protecting Building in Chicago during Pullman Strike

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.


In the past and at the beginning the holiday was often regarded as a day of rest and parties. Forms of celebration include picnics, barbecues, fireworks displays, water sports, and public art events. Labor Organizations promote their political agendas by requesting canditates to attend their holiday celebrations and give speechs.

Today, It is still regarded as a day of picnics and barbecues. Labor Day is considered by most Americans as the last day of Summer and the last day that public pools are open. American families view it as the last opportunity to travel with the family before school starts. Young adults and teenagers view it as the last party weekend prior to school starting. High Society and the fashionable believe it to be the last day to fashionably wear white.

In summary Labor Day in the United States began as a day to honor those of our great nation that toil every day to run the industries, that common man who makes the wheels roll and planes fly and provide all the needs for our our lifes needs.

Papa Dennis says: Have a wonder Labor Day and God Bless all of you who work hard every day to make this country what it is today.

Material for this post were gathered from multiple sources and is accurate as recorded history can be.