When Is Labor Day Weekend?
One of the three-day weekends that has been granted by the Federal government is Labor Day weekend. Labor Day is a day set aside to celebrate the social and economic achievements of the American workers. It honors the contribution that the worker has made to the prosperity, well-being and strength of our country.
The first Monday of September is Labor Day. The celebration of Labor Day is usually carried over into the surrounding weekend; so, if the 1st occurs on Monday then Labor Day weekend is August 30 to September 1.
Much like the Memorial Day weekend that starts the summer, Labor Day weekend ends it. Many schools around the country return to school after their summer break on the first Tuesday after Labor Day. For the schools that return from summer break in the middle of August, Labor Day weekend becomes the first three-day weekend of the new school year.
Many workers take one of their vacation days off on the Friday before to allow for a small vacation. Four full days of relaxation can be spent before heading back to work or school.
The traditions of Labor Day include parades, BBQ’s, fireworks and other celebrations.
First Labor Day
In 1882, the Central Labor union of New York established a day of celebration to honor the workers and their contributions to the country. The first celebration was held in New York City on the first Monday of September. The idea of this day spread with the expansion of the Union movement and became an accepted holiday for workers throughout the country.
Government Establishment of Labor Day
During 1894, the Pullman Strike left a number of workers dead at the hands of the U.S. military and the U.S. marshals.
President Cleveland made reconciliation with workers and unions a top priority. In so doing, he declared Labor Day as a national holiday. By shifting it away from the International Workers Day celebrated on May 1st, it also reduced the reminders of the Haymarket Square battle.
When Congress passed this holiday, Labor Day was officially declared to occur on the first Monday of September. All fifty states have approved the holiday as an official holiday.
Who Is Honored on Labor Day Weekend
The purpose of Labor Day is to honor the trade unions. The labor unions came into being in the 1880 to 1900s. They fought for fair wages, shorter work weeks and fair treatment.
The employers at the time of their creation were abusing the employees and held too much power over the workers. They threatened the workers with loosing their jobs if they didn’t do as the employer wanted. Many workers were not earning enough wages to feed their families and were working seven-day work weeks with ten to twelve hour work days. The unions helped workers get fair treatment and better working conditions and should be celebrated on this great holiday.
Labor Day in Other Countries
Other countries around the world also celebrate Labor Day, but they honor the worker on a different day of the year. For example, in Russia, May 1st is the day to honor workers. They have military parades to show the strength that they attribute to the labor of the workers. The workers provide for the needs of the population and the Army. Other countries also honor their working class and celebrate with a day off work.