History Of Labor Day

Rebekah Dunlap

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As many people know, Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday of September. We relax for an extra day and start the school week with more sleep. But the thing is, some people do not know what we are celebrating on Labor Day, or why we celebrate it. Labor day is a holiday from the late nineteenth century when labor activists protested and marched for a holiday that recognized America's power of labor and strength. People argue about who proposed the holiday first, Peter McGuire or Matthew Maguire. They both have evidence that they are the true founders of Labor Day, but the real answer isn’t clear. The first official Labor Day was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City. On June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed a law, making the first Monday in September of each year a national holiday. Most people celebrate labor day by having barbeques and parades, which is what the original plans were for a Labor Day celebration. Will we ever know who gave us a day off from school? All we know is we can be grateful for the day off of school.