Celebrating in the midst of an economic recession is certainly not the easiest of tasks. And as millions of Americans face unemployment and pay cuts, the true meaning of holidays such as Labor Day become lost in the midst of shifting priorities. But this Labor Day Weekend, it is important to take some time to remember how this holiday came to be and recognize its significance for our country.
When is Labor Day? Labor Day is the first Monday of September.
Who first proposed the idea of “Labor Day”? While Labor Day is defined as being a product of the Labor Movement, the identity of the person responsible for the proposal of this day is up for debate. The United States Department of Labor website lists two possibilities for the founder—Peter McGuire, the general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, was believed by many to be the original proposer, but new research suggests that it may have actually been the brain-child of Matthew Maguire, a machinist.
Why do we celebrate Labor Day? Labor Day was founded to be a “working men’s holiday.” This annual celebration is intended to be a national tribute to the contributions of American workers and all that these contributions have done to provide strength, prosperity, and well-being to our growing country.
How are you going to celebrate Labor Day this year? Share your plans below!
