By Daerra Stull
Do you ever have the Monday blues and can’t seem to get motivated? Well, lucky for you, the first Monday of September is finally here! In modern times, we welcome Labor Day for a chance to get off work or school. Maybe you welcome this day because of the retail sales that you are finally able to shop freely on your day off to get those bargains. Well, whatever the reason, we should not only be celebrating it because of that. Labor Day has a remarkable past, and that is why we have those luxuries today.
Labor Day, also known as a “workingmen’s holiday,” was first celebrated with a parade on September 5, 1882, in New York. The Knights of Labor arranged the parade, and the Central Labor Union encouraged the movement. It was created by the Labor Movement, and subsequently became a federal holiday in 1884. This day honored all of the working men and their achievements, along with the prosperity they brought to the nation.
The concept of celebrating Labor Day finally made its way to other states and the states’ legislations finally passed it. In addition, the speeches by both successful men and women were introduced later in the years of celebration. They spoke with gratitude and an emphasis on the financial and civic significance of this holiday. Labor Day represents the contribution to our country’s prosperity, freedom, strength and guidance of the American workers.