I always thought that Labor Day was a day that we celebrate the men & women that built our country into the great nation it is today.  So, today I decided to do some research into the origins of the holiday.

“Labor Day in the United States of America is a public holiday celebrated on the first Monday in September. It honors the American labor movement and the power of collective action by laborers, who are essential for the workings of society. ”  

I came across a variety of origin stories. All agree that the observance of Labor Day began in the late 1800s.  Some of the ideas are listed below:

—  “The founders were looking for two things: a means of unifying union workers and a reduction in work time.”

— It started as a labor strike because laborers were tired of a 70-hour workweek.

— A parade was held where the blue-collar workers showed off their tools of the trade

Most Americans now use Labor Day to mark the end of summer and to prepare to resume “normal” routines. Nothing but the name remains of the original ideals.