
Other than the fact that we get a day off for the holiday and kids don’t have to go to school we probably don’t know much about the significance of Labor Day. We know it’s always the first Monday in September. We “assume” it has something to do with working and we know it’s a federal holiday we really don’t know much about it as we sit in the kayak or boat and sip a cool beverage.
Well, I did a little bit of research about Labor Day, and it has nothing to do with mothers giving birth after going through labor. It’s not that kind of labor that’s being honored…..that’s Mother’s Day in May.

I digress……Labor Day was created out of the labor movement and its been celebrated by Americans for over 100 years. This holiday honors the dedication and hard work of American workers all over the country whose accomplishments, through the decades, have made life easier and far better for most Americans.

Although millions of Americans don’t know much about it other than they get a day off from work (probably). It has been celebrated since 1885 after municipal ordinances were passed. Not surprisingly, the first state to bring forth a bill to celebrate “the working man” was in the state of New York. However, apparently the state of Oregon gets credit for being the first state to pass legislation to honor the worker since they approved it in February 1887.


In the last several decades, in some ways, Labor Day is synonymous with the end of summer and “back to school.” The original purpose was to honor “laborers” all over the country whether they are teachers, plumbers, newspaper writers, taxi drivers, etc., etc., etc. For a lot of people they simply celebrate having a day off of work.You might want to give this some thought…..what in the world would we do without people who don’t get much credit but work at their job and give it their all? I believe that would encompass about 80 percent of the work force.
So the next time you’re in a store and a salesperson or the worker who helps load the groceries into the big brown bags, surprise them. Tell them thank you, especially on Labor Day. If you happen to know a woman in labor you might want to thank her too. After all, none of us would be on the planet if it weren’t for them!





Four more states followed and by 1894 many more states joined in and by 1894 Congress passed an act that made the first Monday in September a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and in the territories . So, that was that. With all the states and the territories taking part, that’s how it began.
So now, if you’re ever on Jeopardy you’ll know the answer. However, don’t be too cocky because, like so many other things, there are a few versions of how this holiday got to be a holiday and who was responsible. Isn’t it funny how things don’t change!

In the meantime, I hope you all had a great holiday! Now it’s back to work or school, or both!

Here’s a few of our “laborers” who you might want to give a pat on the back:


