Uncover the history behind the celebration of Labor Day

What’s Labor Day? Labor Day is a holiday celebrated in the United States and Canada to honor workers and their contributions to society. Labor Day is observed on the first Monday in September. But the first Labor Day was celebrated on a Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City. Thousands of workers marched in a parade, followed by a picnic and other festivities. Within a few years, Labor Day celebrations were being held in several states. The United States Congress passed a bill that would make Labor Day a national holiday. Hoping to calm striking and rioting workers across the country, U.S. President Grover Cleveland signed the bill into law in June 1894. Today Labor Day is considered the unofficial end of summer and a day for celebrating with friends and family.