(WHTM) — Labor Day is observed annually on the first Monday in September and is renowned as the holiday that signifies the unofficial end of the summer. Although everyone is aware that it means getting an extra day off from work and school, its significance extends far beyond the extended weekend.
The purpose of the day, according to the US Department of Labor, is to honor the social and economic accomplishments of American workers. The celebrations date back to the late 1800s, when labor leaders pushed for a national holiday to honor the contributions of workers to the nation.
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As per the intentions of the Central Labor Union, the inaugural Labor Day was observed in New York in September 1882.
Labor Day was first only observed in specific states as a holiday. Although Oregon was the first state to establish a law commemorating the day, New York was the first state to introduce a bill in 1886 in an effort to secure federal legislation.
Which establishments are open on Labor Day?
Four more states approved legislation designating the day a holiday in 1887, and 27 more states did the same in 1894. The first Monday in September is a legal holiday thanks to an act that Congress passed on June 28, 1894, and President Grover Cleveland signed.
Similar to the parades, festivals, and festivities described in the holiday's original proposal from the late 19th century, many Americans still celebrate Labor Day today.
