Every country in the world has its distinctive holidays that highlight the peculiarities of the nation. As for the United States, almost everyone globally is aware of Independence Day, Xmas, and Thanksgiving. But there is one more important day in the country, which is Labor Day.

In this article, we are going to briefly describe its history and a popular way to celebrate the day.

The origins of Labor Day

At the beginning of the 19th century, Americans faced the Industrial Revolution, whose purpose was to protect the rights of workers. Those involved in the labor movement wanted to put child labor to an end as well as ensure that employees have access to medical, retirement, and compensation benefits.

Later, a person called Peter J. McGuire was the one who sparked off strikes which led to the working conditions we have today; in other words, thanks to him, we now work 40 hours a week.

Some people believe that it was Matthew Macguire who actually set a date for celebrating Labor Day. He was a key person in charge of the strikes in the late 1880s and introduced the idea of commemorating their activities.

What prompted Labor day to be a day off?

The story behind that is that the employees of Pullman Palace Car Company were made redundant or lost part of their salary, whereas rent and store prices remained the same. The employees organized a strike (known as the Pullman strike), fought for their rights, and despite losing 30 people in bloodshed, achieved their goal.

After this tragic event, President Cleveland made a decision to officially recognize the first Monday of September as Labor Day.

How Americans Celebrate Labor Day

Today, at the beginning of September, parades are held throughout the country, the New York parade being the largest and most famous event. Americans tend to spend time outside and go to the country to enjoy a good picnic or a barbecue. In the evening, various fireworks take place in almost every city in the country.

Other social events, such as concerts and public gatherings, are also typical for this day. As an example, you can enjoy a New York Labor Day Carnival or go to Washington to listen to the National Symphony Orchestra free of charge.

This holiday marks the official end of summer, and it is typical for many residents of the States to take two-week time off work to get their kids ready for school and sports activities.