Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday of September each year. It honors and recognizes the American labor movement and the contributions of workers to the country's development and achievements
. The holiday originated in the late 19th century during the rise of trade unions and labor movements. The first Labor Day parade took place in New York City on September 5, 1882, organized by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor. The idea was to set aside a day to celebrate laborers with parades, picnics, and speeches demonstrating labor solidarity and strength
. Labor Day became an official public holiday first in Oregon in 1887, and by 1894, thirty states celebrated it. That same year, after the Pullman Strike, the U.S. Congress passed legislation making the first Monday in September a federal holiday, signed into law by President Grover Cleveland
. Labor Day is distinct from International Workers' Day (May Day), which is celebrated on May 1 in many countries to commemorate labor strikes and the Haymarket affair of 1886 in Chicago. Labor Day in the U.S. is more focused on honoring workers' contributions and is marked by parades, barbecues, and the unofficial end of summer
. In summary, Labor Day is a day to celebrate and recognize the social and economic achievements of American workers, rooted in the labor struggles of the 19th century and officially recognized as a federal holiday since 1894
