Since this is Labor day I decided to write down a few facts about how it was established and why. I hope you enjoy the facts and the pictures!
September 2, the US celebrates the American worker! This year will be the 125th year of it being celebrated as a national holiday.
“Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.”
The real founder of labor day is somewhat disputed between Matthew Maguire and Peter J. McGuire. Many people feel that it is Matthew Maguire. This was a quote by Peter McGuire why he wanted to found labor day: “who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold.”
The first Labor Day national holiday was celebrated on September 5, 1882. After many more states adopted the holiday President Grover Cleveland made it into a national holiday for the first Monday of September.
“The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday โ a street parade to exhibit to the public “the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations” of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic 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.”
” Now the holiday is a celebration that honors organized labor with fewer parades, and more activities. It also marks the perceived end of the summer season.”
Pictures by Ezra Morley
All quotes are taken from: https://www.dol.gov/general/laborday/history and https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/10-fascinating-facts-about-the-labor-day-holiday/