Why do we celebrate Labor Day?
Rooted in the the labor movement of the 19th century, the holiday originated during a dismal time for America’s workers, who faced long hours, low wages and unsafe conditions.
As labor unions and activists advocated and fought for better treatment for workers at the height of the Industrial Revolution, the idea arose to establish a day dedicated to celebrating the members of trade and labor unions, according to History.com.
Even today, many Americans continue to celebrate Labor Day with parades and parties — festivities outlined in the first proposal for a holiday, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Since those early celebrations, Labor Day is now also marked with speeches by elected officials and community leaders who emphasize the economic and civic significance of the holiday.
How did Labor Day begin?
Two workers can make a solid claim to the title of Labor Day’s official founder, according to the labor department.
Some records show that it was Peter J. McGuire, the co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, who in 1882 first suggested the idea for the holiday. However, recent research supports the contention that machinist Matthew Maguire proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York.Get the Daily Briefing newsletter in your inbox.
The day’s top stories, from sports to movies to politics to world events.Delivery: DailyYour Email
Regardless of which man deserves the credit, Labor Day soon became recognized by labor activists and individual states long before it became a federal holiday.
Organized by the Central Labor Union, the first Labor Day holiday was celebrated in 1882 in New York City, according to the labor department. On that day, 10,000 workers took unpaid time off to march from City Hall to Union Square, according to History.com.
New York was also the first state to introduce a bill recognizing Labor Day, but Oregon was the first to pass such a law in 1887, according to the labor department. By 1894, 32 states had adopted the holiday.
