We all celebrate it. But few people can tell you what it’s all about.
In short, Labor Day is a national legal holiday that grew out of a New York
celebration in 1882 honoring the working class. It’s dedicated to the
social and economic achievements of American workers who have contributed to
the strength and economic prosperity of this great nation.
But who first proposed it? That’s debatable. Some say it was Peter J.
McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners. Others
say the Knights of Labor. However, recent research says that machinist Matthew
Maguire, (later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association
of Machinists in Paterson, N.J.) proposed the holiday in 1882 when he served
as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York.
“Celebrate it on the first Monday in September!” the labor union
declared. They then urged similar organizations across the U.S. to follow their
lead. The idea caught on, and by 1885 celebrations were held throughout the
U.S. New York, New Jersey, Oregon, Colorado, and Massachusetts were the first
states to declare it a state holiday. In 1894, Congress passed a law declaring
Labor Day as an official national holiday. Today, Labor Day is not only observed
in the U.S., but also in Canada, and in other industrialized nations.
Over the years, Labor Day has changed from a celebration of American industry,
to more of an unofficial indicator of the end of summer. How appropriate! Because
for many of us, it marks the time when we woefully put away our travel brochures
and luggage… and get back down to business!
