What Is Labor Day About? 10 Historical Facts About Celebration Of American Movement

Labor Day 2020 falls on the first Monday of September and this year, the exact date is Monday, Sept. 7. The holiday celebrates and honors the achievements of American workers. Labor Day also marks the unofficial end of summer, as the second half of the year begins with

the fall season and holidays. Here are 10 historical facts about Labor Day:

1. Who was the founder of Labor Day? The answer is murky

, at best. Some believe Peter J. McGuire, the general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a

co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, was the first to create the notion of the holiday. But others say machinist Matthew Maguire was the real founder.

2. When did Labor Day become a holiday? Labor Day became a federal holiday on June 28, 1894, when Congress passed an act designating the first Monday of September to be the legal day for the holiday. But prior to that, on a state-level, bills

were passed to create a Labor Day. New York was the first state to introduce legislation for the

holiday but it was Oregon who first passed it in 1887.

3. When was the first labor day celebrated?

The very

first Labor Day

was celebrated before

it was passed into law in New York City on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 1882.

The celebration was planned by the Central Labor Union.

4. Was the U.S. the first country to celebrate Labor Day? Nope! All credit goes to Canada, as the nation celebrated the day in Toronto in 1872

-- a full decade before the United States.

5. What U.S. state was the first to celebrate Labor Day? New York was the first state to introduce legislation for the holiday, but it was Oregon who first passed it in 1887.

6. What does Labor Day celebrate? As the name suggests, Labor Day is a celebration of the American labor movements and honors the achievements of American workers.

7. What are Labor Day traditions? In the fashion world, it is said that people should not wear white after Labor Day since it unofficially marks the end of the summer. But in the past few years, the 'no white after Labor

Day' rule has

been considered

to be antiquated.

8. How many people are we celebrating? The American

work force has

an estimated 155 million men and women.

9. Where did the ‘No

white after Labor Day’ rule come from?

Historians say this comes from when the upper class would return from their summer vacations and stow away their lightweight, white summer clothes as they

returned back to school and work.

10. How did laws change? Before

legislations came through, Americans used to work 12-hour days seven days a week during the 19th century. It was only until September 3, 1916, that the Adamson Act

was passed and the eight-hour workday

was established.