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Happy Labor Day!
A brief history of the day set aside for taking time off
Lincoln Herald Staff
It’s the annual Labor Day weekend!
It’s the day set aside to honor work and workers, and it’s a uniquely American thing. Several other nations may have their own Labor Day holidays now, but America did it first.
According to the United States Department of Labor, this federal holiday (no mail; no banks open; and no state and federal offices open either) is always observed on the first Monday in September. Labor Day is an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers. It is rooted in the late 1800’s, back when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity and well-being.
Also according to the labor department, before it was a federal holiday, Labor Day was recognized by labor activists and individual states. After municipal ordinances were passed in 1885 and 1886, a movement developed to secure state legislation. New York was the first state to introduce a bill, but Oregon was the first to pass a law recognizing Labor Day. That happened on Feb. 21, 1887.
And also in 1887, four more states––Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York––passed laws creating a Labor Day holiday. By the end of that decade, Connecticut, Nebraska and Pennsylvania followed suit. By 1894, 23 more states adopted the holiday, and on June 28, 1894, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday.
Each year on Labor Day, Americans typically enjoy backyard cook-outs. Or maybe they extend the weekend to get in some extra vacation time. And though it may be looked upon, at least unofficially, as the end of summer, that day won’t come around calendrically for some three weeks: Sept. 21. So get out and enjoy that summertime weather!
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