10 Interesting Facts About Labor Day
If you’re like most Americans you probably think of Labor Day as a day off to relax and maybe have a barbecue to celebrate the unofficial last day of summer. While this is true, there’s also a lot of history behind this federal holiday. Here are 10 interesting facts about Labor Day you may not know.
- We copied it from Canada
In 1872, Toronto, Canada established Labor Day as a day to demand rights for workers. The U.S. followed suit and celebrated its first Labor Day with a parade on September 5, 1882 in New York City as a way to recognize and honor the contributions workers have made to our country.
- It was founded by a McGuire – but no one is sure which one
There is disagreement concerning who actually founded Labor Day in the United States. Some believe it was the general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, Peter McGuire, while others give the credit to the machinist Matthew McGuire. Both men were respected union leaders who led strikes and fought for workers’ rights.
- The first parade was a huge success
Union leaders who organized the first Labor Day parade in NYC had called upon people to join the festivities and rally in support of America’s workers. Since workers would have to give up a day of pay, they were initially reluctant to participate. However, the number of parade participants grew quickly throughout the day to about 10,000 people.
- It became law in Oregon first
While New York was the first state to introduce a bill to make Labor Day a legal holiday, Oregon was the first to make it law. The Oregon state bill passed on February 21, 1887.
- It became a national holiday in 1894
While individual states had been recognizing Labor Day for many years, it was not made a national holiday until 1894. President Grover Cleveland and the U.S. Congress passed the legislation.
- The Pullman Palace Car Company strike played a role
In 1894, the railway car company, Pullman Palace Car Company in Illinois, cut wages for union workers and fired union representatives. To protest, union workers went on strike and encouraged a nationwide boycott of trains that carried Pullman cars. This crippled railroad traffic and disrupted mail delivery throughout the country. President Grover Cleveland called the strike illegal and sent in troops to stop it, which incited riots that resulted in the killing of two men. After the riots, the union was disbanded and Pullman workers had to sign a pledge that they would not form a union. President Cleveland experienced political backlash for this anti-labor stance and to appease workers, he fast-tracked the passing of the Labor Day legislation.
- The largest Labor Day parade is in NYC
Every September over 50,000 union members representing 400 affiliated unions attend the New York City Labor Day parade making it the largest Labor Day parade in the country. The union workers walk alongside marching bands, color guards, jazz and salsa bands, and Emerald Society pipes and drums. Pittsburgh has the second largest Labor Day parade.
Each year on Labor Day, New York City also hosts the West Indian-American Day Carnival parade. Over 1 million people attend this festive parade that marches through Crown Heights, Brooklyn and celebrates Caribbean culture with steel-pan and calypso bands and dancers in colorful and elaborate costumes.
- It is often confused with May Day
Labor Day is sometimes confused with May Day, also called International Workers Day. May Day, celebrated on May 1, is a public holiday in many countries and honors workers’ rights. May Day’s origins go back to the May 1886 Haymarket affair when U.S. workers held a nationwide strike in support of an 8-hour work day.
- It’s always celebrated on the 1st Monday of September
Labor Day is always observed on the first Monday of September. The date was chosen because it was halfway between Independence Day and Thanksgiving. This year it takes place on September 7.
- Labor Day ushers in the unofficial kickoff to the NFL season
History shows that in most years, the NFL schedules its first season game on the Thursday after Labor Day. This year is no exception with the 96th NFL season beginning on Thursday, September 10th.
Happy Labor Day from all of us at Omni Financial!
The information provided in this blog post is for informational purposes only.
Reviewed for accuracy on 02/03/23; First Published on 09/03/15
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