Does anyone know why we celebrate Labor Day? In the United States, we will observe Labor Day on Monday, September 6, 2021. Many people will have the day off from work, as a paid holiday. There may be parades, picnics, bar-b-ques, and even parties. Many people look at Labor Day as the end of summer. It may be the last camping trip of the summer. Some people will decorate their homes with red, white, and blue, the colors of our flag. Most stores will have Labor Day weekend sales going on for three or four days.
So back to the question, does anyone know why we celebrate Labor Day? Let’s look beyond the way we celebrate it today and take a peek at how it began.
How Labor Day started
- We always celebrate Labor Day on the 1st Monday of September, each year. However, in its first two years, it was celebrated on a Tuesday.
- Labor Day is not a patriotic holiday, like Memorial Day or the 4th of July, even though most people treat it as if it were.
- Back in the late 1800s, workers had very little rights, and they had to work hard to get them.
- In 1866, Congress established an 8 hours workday. Employers had forced people to work 10 or more hours a day without overtime. This was a start to improving workers’ poor treatment.
- The first parade to celebrate Labor Day was held in New York City on September 5, 1882, years before it became adopted by Congress as a national holiday.
- Other states individually passed laws to establish Labor Day.
- George Pullman started a business called Pullman Railway Cars, in 1889 in Pullman, Illinois. He grew very rich, owning most of the city. Most of his employees lived in the housing he rented to them. Railcar business slowed down in 1893 and Mr. Pullman laid off 100s of his employees. Those who weren’t laid off had their wages cut and their rent increased, leaving them with no income. They became dissatisfied and went on strike, demanding higher pay and lower rent. Eugene V. Debs, the leader of the American Railway Union, backed the strike. He called for a National boycott of all Pullman Railcars. This caused a mess, including riots, delays in products being delivered by train and delay in the U.S. mail, and the burning of some railway cars in protest. President Grover Cleveland sent 12,000 troops to stop the boycott and riots. They succeed, however, they killed at least 2 of the protestors.
- They declared the boycott over. Eugene V. Debs went to jail and all the Pullman workers had to sign an agreement to never form a union again. The workers gained nothing from their strike.
- Many people were angry at President Cleveland for how he handled the situation and to make them happy 6 days later, President Grover Cleveland signed a bill making Labor Day a national holiday on June 28, 1894.
- President Grover Cleveland was hoping, by making Labor Day a national holiday would help him win the next election, but he failed.
- The purpose of the holiday is to celebrate the working men and women in the United States, along with their contributions to our economy.
- Canada also observes Labor Day.
Quotes about Labor
To get you feeling more in tune with Labor Day, here are some quotes often used regarding Labor Day.
“Labor disgraces no man; unfortunately you occasionally find men disgrace labor.”
Ulysses S. Grant
“It is only through labor and painful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage, that we move on to better things.”
Theodore Roosevelt
“Let us realize that the privilege to work is a gift. That the power to work is a blessing. That the love of work is success.”
David O. McKay, educator
“All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Without Labor Nothing Prospers.”
Sophocles, ancient Greek playwright
Labor Day this year
I hope that this year, when you are observing Labor Day, this information gives you something to think about. Labor Day has gone from a hard-fought holiday to a fun-filled weekend. Sometimes it’s good to look back and remember the progress that our country has made.
How do you usually observe Labor Day? Please share this post and comment below on how you celebrate Labor Day. Enjoy your day.
