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Labor Day is the only American holiday honoring the efforts of working people in building this country. It also commemorates the accomplishments of the labor movement in gaining decent wages and legal protections for workers. Both Americans and Canadians celebrate Labor Day on the first Monday in September.

The American Labor movement can be traced back to the founding of this country. The movement didn’t become strong until the late nineteenth century, however, because until that time the U.S. was primarily an agricultural country. As more people became factory workers, the possibility of a strong, U.S. labor movement grew. Nevertheless, organizing proved difficult because workers had no protection from angry employers and desperately needed their meager wages. In those days, most factory employees worked ten to fourteen hours a day, six days a week. Wages were so low that not only did both parents work, but many families also had to send their children to work as well. There was no minimum wage, no laws against child labor, no sick leave, no vacations, no pension, no social security, and no protection against being fired without reason.

By 1894, twenty-three states had already made Labor Day into a legal holiday. In that same year, Congress declared Labor Day, the first Monday in September, to be a national holiday.

Last Weekend in Summer

Although Labor Day has its roots in the labor movement, it has become a leisure-oriented holiday. For many Americans, Labor Day weekend symbolizes the last weekend in summer. Technically this isn’t true, since fall begins on the Autumn Equinox. Nevertheless, in many parts of the U.S. the weather starts to cool down in early September, the days grow noticeably shorter, and children return to school after the summer break. For these reasons, many people treat Labor Day as the last weekend of summer and accordingly plan to picnic outside, go to the beach, or take a final summer vacation. Many stores hold Labor Day Weekend sales featuring discounted summer merchandise. Schools and colleges often wait until after Labor Day to begin their fall term. Some segments of the population suggest that Labor Day is the last day of the year on which fashion-conscious people wear white shoes and clothing （the first days being Memorial Day weekend）. White shoes and clothing are associated with the heat of summer.

In the early decades of the holiday’s history, parades and rallies organized by labor unions often served as the main feature of civic Labor Day observances. In large cities tens of thousands of workers marched in these parades. They helped reinforce the values and aims of the union and kept members feeling united with one another. Indeed, in the first half of the twentieth century a strong American labor movement influenced politicians to pass laws that established a minimum wage, created a social security program to benefit people too old to work, eliminated child labor, and much more. By the 1960s organized labor had created working conditions that Americans living in the 1880s, when Labor Day first got its start, could scarcely dream of.

In the second half of the twentieth century, even as the labor movement achieved its goals, it began to lose strength and membership. Labor Day parades and rallies began to occur more sporadically and eventually died out in some places. Though parades are becoming rarer, some labor organizations still host picnics that include pro-labor speeches.

Many Americans enjoy hosting or attending picnics with family and friends on Labor Day. Barbecued meats are often served, especially such typically American fare as hot dogs and hamburgers. The fruits and vegetables of summer, such as watermelon, tomatoes, green beans, summer squash, and corn, often play a starring role in the meal as well. Cold drinks and cold desserts, such as ice cream, usually round out the celebration.

Political candidates sometimes wait until Labor Day to make the first big speech of their campaign. Thus the day often serves as the start of the campaign trail, with two months of intense political activity ahead until the November elections. Some politicians try to make their speeches at large Labor Day picnics, where many of their supporters are likely to be gathered.