The holiday is rooted in the vibrant labor movement of the late 19th century when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize how ordinary workers from coast to coast built America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being.
In the beginning, labor activists called for wider recognition with parades, picnics, and speeches. The first recorded celebration of this kind took place on September 5, 1882 in New York City. The Central Labor Union organized a day of street parades, picnics, and parties to exhibit the strength and camaraderie of the trade and labor organizations in the community.
The practice spread quickly across the nation. By 1894, 30 states were officially celebrating Labor Day. Congress acted to make Labor Day a federal holiday to be celebrated the first Monday in September. On June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed the bill into law.
Learn more about the origins and growth of this holiday by watching this video by the U.S. Department of Labor.