Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and
is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. The first
Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882 in New York City in
accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The idea for this day is attributed to
(5)a man named McGuire, but there is some controversy about which man named McGuire.
This celebration was repeated the following year, then in 1884, the first Monday in
September was selected, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other
cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a “workingmen’s holiday” on that
date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was
(10)celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.

Through the years the nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. The first
government recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and
1886, leading to a movement to secure State legislation. The first bill was introduced into
the New York legislature, but the first to become law was passed by Oregon in 1887.
(15)During that year four more States (Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York)
also legislated for Labor Day. By 1894, 23 other States had adopted the holiday, and in
June of that year, Congress passed an Act, making the first Monday in September of each
year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.

The form that the observance and celebration should take, was outlined to be a
(20)street parade to exhibit to the public “the strength and ‘esprit de corps’ of the trade and
labor organizations”, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of workers
and their families. By resolution of the American Federation of Labor Convention in 1909,
the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday, and dedicated to the
spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.