Why do we celebrate Labor Day, Where did it first originate from?

Answer 1

Labor Day is a United States federal holiday that takes place on the first Monday of September. In 2006, Labor Day occurred on September 4.

The origins of the American Labor Day can be traced back to the Knights of Labor in the United States and a parade organized by them on September 5, 1882 in New York City. They were inspired by an annual labor parade held in Toronto, Canada. In 1884 another parade was held, and the Knights passed resolutions to make this an annual event. Many other labor organizations, notably the affiliates of the International Workingmen's Association, favored a May 1 holiday. With the event of Chicago's Haymarket riots in early May of 1886, president Grover Cleveland believed that a May 1 holiday could become an opportunity to commemorate the riots. Thus, fearing that it might strengthen the socialist movement, he quickly moved in 1887 to support the position of the Knights of Labor and their date for Labor Day.

Labor Day has been celebrated on the first Monday in September in the United States since the 1880s. The September date has remained unchanged, even though the government was encouraged to adopt May 1 as Labor Day, the date celebrated by the majority of the world. Moving the holiday, in addition to breaking with tradition, could have been viewed as aligning the U.S. labor movements with internationalist sympathies.

Labor Day is generally regarded simply as a day of rest and, unlike May Day, political demonstrations are rare. Forms of celebration include picnics, barbecues, fireworks displays, water sports, and public art events. Families with school-age children take it as the last chance to travel before the end of summer. Some teenagers and young adults view it as the last weekend for parties before returning to school. However, of late, schools have begun well before Labor Day, as early as the 24th of July in many urban districts, including Nashville and Atlanta.

According to Howard Zinn in his research in A People's History of the United States, the original parade in 1882 organized by the Knights of Labor had a loose affiliation with the Ku Klux Klan, a main reason why the more progressive supporters of a labor parade preferred the May Day march.

A prominent Labor Day event in the United States, since 1966, is the annual telethon of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, hosted by Jerry Lewis to fund research and patient support programs for the various diseases grouped as muscular dystrophy. The telethon raises tens of millions of dollars each year.

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Upcoming Labor Days
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Local Labor Day celebrations
Labor Day Bridge Walk - Residents in the state of Michigan walk across the Mackinac Bridge early in the morning on Labor Day every year. The Walk is traditionally started by the Governor of Michigan.
Boomsday - fireworks display and festival on the Tennessee River in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee.
Riverfest - fireworks and festival in Cincinnati, Ohio sponsored by radio station WEBN that draws over 500,000 visitors.
Bumbershoot - well known festival in Seattle, Washington held at Seattle Center
Chataqua - well known festival in Pampa, Texas held in Central Park
Victory Square Block Party - infamous festival in Vancouver held in the eponymous park.
Los Gatos Celebrations - city in California near San Jose, held in Vasona park.
Labor Day Parade & Harvest of Fun - Lowell, Indiana, oldest Labor Day parade in Indiana.


Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_Day_%28United_States%29"
Categories: Holidays in the United States | Secular holidays

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hope this helps

Answer 2

The first Labor Day was planned & celebrated in New York City by the Central Labor Union September 5 1882.

Labor Day differs in every essential way from the other holidays of the year in any country. All other holidays are in a more or less degree connected with conflicts and battles of man's prowess over man, of strife and discord for greed and power, of glories achieved by one nation over another. Labor Day...is devoted to no man, living or dead, to no sect, race, or nation.

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Answer 3

Union Organization. But it is not what it used to be.

I celebrate Labor Day by taking my Garden out, Most people whom Farm, will plant around Memorial Day and the season is over by Labor Day.

Answer 4

Labor Day began over 100 years ago.for all working people to be off on Labor Day.

Answer 5

The celebration of Labour Day has its origins in the eight hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest. On 21 April 1856 Stonemasons and building workers on building sites around Melbourne, Australia, stopped work and marched from the University of Melbourne to Parliament House to achieve an eight hour day. Their direct action protest was a success, and they are noted as the first organized workers in the world to achieve an eight hour day with no loss of pay, which subsequently inspired the celebration of Labour Day and May Day

Answer 6

Labor Day was created to express appreciation for the hard work of ordinary people. It's become a free long weekend for most (but not all) workers. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business/september96/labor_day_9-2.html
has more info.

Answer 7

All these so call holidays are phony and paganism.The only one that is real is Memorial Day because it was started by my ancestors back in THE REVOLUTIONARY AND CIVIL WAR TIME TO HONOR OUR PEOPLE WHO DIED IN THOSE WARS.AND YES I AM A MUSLIM.

Answer 8

I dont know, I do know I had to work today!!!