Labor Day was first celebrated September 5, 1882. 10,000 workers marched fromcity hall to Union Square to honor American workers. Historians still debate who first came up with Labor Day but ultimately, Labor Day was proposed by the Central Labor Union of New York City. The Union wanted to create a day off for working people to honor them. In the 1800s many Americans worked about twelve hours a day for little pay. As a result of the poor working conditins in the mid-1800s workers joined labor unions. The unions were formed so wrokers could come together and fight for their rights. The wokers held strikes in the streeets for better pay and conditions.
Originaly Labor Day was celebrated with parades. Workers would represent their union and entertain the crowd. During the holiday workers also discussed ways to achieve better working conditions and salaries. Later, speeches were given by men and women who were prominent in society. In 1894 Congress declared the first Monday in September Labor Day. This date was chosen because it is halfway between Independence Day and Thanksgiving.
Now days Labor Day is just seen as a vacation from work. Families travel or have picnics and celebrate the end of summer. In this day of age we have many holidays where we get days off so LaborDay is not as unique as it probably was in the early 1900s. I think the true meaning of the holiday has been lost. I relate Labor Day to Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Both holidays are a Monday where students do not have school and adults do not go to work. No one really thinks about why we celebrate these days, we are just happy for a day off. Labor Day should not be seen as just a fun day off from school. It is a day where we should honor and pay tribute to the workers of the past. The forgotten workers whose determinations for humane conditions and just pay have made our country what it is today.