The History of Labor Day

Today, we associate Labor Day with the end of summer and leisure time with our families and loved ones, but the holiday actually was forged in the fevered, chaotic and sometimes bloody struggles of the early labor movement. 
 
The first Labor Day celebration was held on Sept. 5, 1882, by the Central Labor Union in New York City as a street parade followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of workers and their families. 
 
The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886, with the first state law recognizing the holiday passed by Oregon on Feb. 21, 1887. On June 28, 1894, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories, which has evolved over the years to become a celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers and their contributions to the strength, prosperity and well-being of our country.
 
Click here to read more about the history of Labor Day from the U.S. Department of Labor. - USDOL