New Delhi: Labour Day is celebrated on the first Monday in September. It is a yearly recognition of American workers’ social and economic accomplishments. The holiday originated in the late 1800s when labour activists advocated for a national holiday to honour workers’ significant contributions to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being.
Origin of the Labour Day
Labour activists and individual states recognised Labour Day before becoming a federal holiday. In 1887, Oregon was the first to pass a law recognising Labour Day, followed by four more states.
By 1894, 23 more states had adopted the holiday, and on June 28, 1894, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday.
Who founded the Labour Day?
Labour Day is a holiday for workers, with two individuals credited as the “Founders of Labour Day.”
Peter J McGuire, a co-founder of the American Federation of Labour, and Matthew Maguire, a machinist, claim this title. McGuire proposed the idea first, while Maguire’s advocates argued that he was the true founder.
After President Cleveland signed the law creating a National Labour Day, an opinion piece in the Paterson Morning Call supported Maguire as the undisputed author of Labour Day. Maguire and McGuire attended the country’s first Labour Day parade in New York City.
First Labour Day
The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City. The Central Labor Union organised the holiday. A year later, the union held its second Labor Day holiday on September 5, 1883.
By 1894, 23 more states had adopted the holiday. On June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed a law making the first Monday in September of each year a national holiday.
People observing Labour Day in New York in 1882 (Photo credit: clu/ DigitalVision Vectors/Getty Images)
How do Americans celebrate the Day?
Many Americans celebrate Labour Day with parades and parties, following the first proposal for a holiday, which suggested a street parade to exhibit the strength of trade and labour organisations, followed by a festival for the workers and their families. Speeches and Labour Sunday were added later to emphasise the economic and civic significance of the holiday. Labour Day pays tribute to the American worker who has raised the nation’s standard of living and contributed to its strength, freedom, and leadership.
Labour Day in the US: The first Labour Day was observed on September 5, 1882. The Labour Day celebration should not be mistaken for May Day, observed worldwide on May 1. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
