Labor Day is the unofficial end of the summer--a day for cookouts or one last trip to the beach. It is a reminder that the leaves will soon change to bright, fiery colors and the kids are going back to school. But, why, you might ask, do we celebrate Labor Day? According to the US Department of Labor, the holiday "is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country."

Planned by the Central Labor Union, the first Labor Day celebration occurred on Tuesday, September 5, in New York City. Although most sources credit Peter Maguire, General Secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, with the founding of the holiday, some believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist and later a union secretary, actually proposed the holiday. September was chosen because it provided a break for the workers between Independence Day and Thanksgiving. Approximately 10,000 workers marched from City Hall to Union Square. Following the parade, a picnic, along with a concert and speeches, was held at Riverside Park for the workers and their families.

In 1884, the Central Labor Union celebrated the holiday on the first Monday in September, and urged other cities to follow suit. Within the next couple of years, labor organizations grew and the celebration of Labor Day spread to many industrial cities. On February 21, 1887, Oregon passed a Labor Day bill, and later that year, Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey did the same. After 26 additional states enacted legislation to create a Labor Day holiday, Congress passed an act in 1894 making the first Monday of September a national holiday.

As you are taking that last dip in the pool or adding mustard to your hot dog, remember that Labor Day, which has become more about leisure than labor, was once a day for the working class to celebrate their work, air their grievances, and strategize for ways to gain better wages and working conditions. If you want to learn more, take advantage of the Library of Congress's Today in History Archive (search for "labor") or the American Memory page (search for labor unions). The sites have photographs, documents and information, about labor and labor unions.

Sources:
"The History of Labor Day." U.S. Department of Labor in the 21st Century http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/laborday.htm (accessed August 31, 2007).

"Today in History: September 5: The First Labor Day." The Library of Congress American Memory http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/today/sep05.html (accessed August 31, 2007).