1 – Labor Day originated in the late 19th century, at a time when labor unions were gaining prominence in the U.S.
2 – Back then, the average American worked 12-hour days and seven-day weeks, and children as young as 5 and 6 years old worked in factories and mines.
3 – Some say the idea for the holiday was first proposed by Peter J. McGuire, cofounder of the American Federation of Labor; others credit Matthew Maguire, a secretary of the Central Labor Union.
4 – The first Labor Day was celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City.
5 – An estimated 10,000 workers marched from City Hall past Union Square and up to 42nd street. The parade ended in Wendel’s Elm Park at 92nd Street and 9th Avenue, where marchers and their families enjoyed a concert, speeches, and a picnic. Not all employers support the idea and some unions levied fines against those who did not go to work.
6 – Oregon was the first state to celebrate Labor Day as a legal holiday in 1887.
7 – President Grover Cleveland and the U.S. Congress declared Labor Day a national holiday in 1984, to be observed annually on the first Monday of September.
8 – Today, Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of the approximately 160 million men and women who comprise the U.S. workforce. It is celebrated in cities and towns across the country with parades, fireworks displays, barbecues, and family get-togethers.
9 – According to historians, the tradition of not wearing white after Labor Day stems from an era when members of the upper class returned from their summer holidays and packed away their lightweight, mostly white, clothes in favor of darker colors for school and work.
10 – Labor Day represents a number of unofficial endings and beginnings. For many, the holiday weekend marks the end of summer and the start of back-to-school season. It is also considered to be the end of hot dog season and the start of football season. The National Football League (NFL) traditionally plays its kickoff game the Thursday following Labor Day.
All of us at Summit Financial wish you a safe and relaxing holiday!
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