By TR Robertson
Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States, honoring the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers. It is always the first Monday in September, this year September 2nd, and the Saturday before is the beginning of the Labor Day Weekend. Not only does it mark the unofficial end of summer but there was a time it marked the three-day weekend before the start of most school’s new year in the United States. Today schools begin earlier and earlier in the month of August.
In the late 19th century, trade unions and labor movements were growing. Trade unionists proposed that a day be set aside to celebrate labor. The idea of “Labor Day” was promoted by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor. This group organized the first Labor Day Parade in New York City in 1882. Some credit P.J. McGuire, Vice President of the American Federation of Labor as the Father of Labor Day in the U.S. He had proposed, in 1882, a “general holiday for the laboring classes”. Oregon, in 1887, was the first state to make Labor Day an official public holiday. By the time it became an official federal holiday, in 1894, thirty states were already celebrating Labor Day. After 1930, all states, the District of Columbia and American territories have made Labor Day a statutory holiday.
Canada also celebrates Labor Day on the first Monday in September. There are more than 80 countries in the world that celebrate International Workers’ Day on May 1st. The United States has designated May 1st as Loyalty Day and Law Day, neither a federal holiday.
Traditionally, Labor Day is also called “the unofficial end of summer”. There was a time many school districts resumed classes, after their summer break, after the Labor Day weekend. This is no longer the case. There are some districts in the Midwest that still begin school after the Labor Day weekend. The state of Virginia’s amusement park industry once lobbied to have schools begin after the Labor Day weekend so they could take advantage of the final long weekend for families to visit the parks. This statute passed but was repealed in 2019. Many of the Fall high school sports use to begin after the Labor Day weekend. This tradition has gone by the wayside as well.
An unusual Labor Day fashion tradition is this day is considered the last day when it is acceptable to wear white or seersucker. Other events that are normally held on this weekend, are the Labor Day Carnival in New York, fireworks over Coney Island and the Labor Day concert at the U.S. Capitol put on by the National Symphony Orchestra.
In Downtown Historic Vista, the annual Rod Run will be held on the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend.
One thing many look forward to is the annual Labor Day Weekend sales and discounts advertised by numerous retailers. Some say this weekend sales event has traditionally been one of the largest sales dates of the year, second only to the Christmas season’s Black Friday. Television, newspapers, and the internet will be full of advertisements for a wide variety of Labor Day sales.
Whatever the case, for those of you taking advantage of Labor Day – Stay Safe and enjoy the weekend. Enjoy the barbeques and don’t forget your sunscreen.
