Labor Day - first Monday of September, federal holiday since 1894, and how it is observed
Labor Day on the first Monday of September is a US federal holiday honoring American workers. Established in 1894, it is one of 11 federal holidays under 5 U.S.C. 6103. Observed as the unofficial end of summer with parades, cookouts, and the NFL season opener.
Next observed in US - Labor Day
Federal holidayPublished October 10, 2026
- Observed in
- Where observed
- When
- September
- Frequency
- Nth weekday of a month
- Days off
- 1 day - federal workers / banks off
- Public status
- Federal / public holiday (banks + federal offices closed)
Labor Day on the first Monday of September is the US federal holiday honoring American workers. It is one of 11 federal holidays under 5 U.S.C. section 6103, established in 1894. The day is culturally the unofficial end of summer and is marked by parades, family gatherings, and the start of the NFL season.
The one-line summary
US federal holiday on the first Monday of September honoring American workers. Established as a federal holiday in 1894 after the Pullman Strike. Observed with parades, cookouts, and the traditional start of the NFL season.
Origin
The first Labor Day was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, organized by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor in New York City. The idea spread through state legislatures over the following decade. Oregon was the first state to make it a legal holiday in 1887; by 1894 thirty states had adopted it.
Congress made Labor Day a federal holiday on June 28, 1894, six days after the Pullman Strike ended. The choice of September over May 1 was deliberate; the September date avoided association with the 1886 Haymarket affair and kept Labor Day separate from May Day, which was associated with socialist and anarchist labor movements in Europe.
How it is observed
Morning: parades in most major US cities. Midday: cookouts, family gatherings, the unofficial end of summer. Afternoon: travel and outdoor activities. The NFL regular season traditionally opens the Thursday after Labor Day, and college football begins the same weekend. Retail runs large end-of-summer sales events.
Legal status
Labor Day is one of 11 federal holidays under 5 U.S.C. section 6103. Federal employees, USPS, the Federal Reserve, NYSE, NASDAQ, and most banks close. Most schools and many businesses close. Retail is largely open and runs large sales events.
Where it is contested
Labor Day itself is broadly accepted. The September-versus-May choice remains a topic of labor-history discussion: the US move from May to September is sometimes read as a deliberate de-politicization of the holiday, in contrast to the international May Day observance that retains its labor radical associations.
In other countries
Canada observes Labor Day on the first Monday of September. Most other countries observe May Day (May 1) as the international workers day. Australia, New Zealand, and several European countries observe Labour Day on different dates tied to local labor history.
Historical background
Labor Day in the United States has contested origins. One tradition credits Peter J. McGuire, co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, with proposing a Labor Day in 1882. Another tradition credits Matthew McGuire (or Maguire), a machinist and labor leader from Paterson, NJ. The Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor both held early Labor Day celebrations in 1882 in New York City, with a parade on September 5, 1882. Oregon was the first state to make Labor Day a legal holiday (1887).
Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894, six days after the Pullman Strike (a nationwide railroad workers' strike that turned violent in Chicago). The federal establishment of Labor Day was partly an attempt by President Cleveland to make peace with the labor movement after the strike's violent suppression. The original federal date was the first Monday of September, fixed in 1894.
Labor Day unofficially marks the end of summer in the United States, and the day is associated with the start of the school year, the end of the Major League Baseball regular season, and the last weekend for summer travel. The retail calendar treats Labor Day weekend as the last major shopping event before the holiday season; many retailers begin their fall promotions and "back to school" sales around Labor Day.
Modern cultural practice
Labor Day is celebrated with parades, picnics, barbecues, and the closing of the summer season. The largest Labor Day parade in the US is in Brooklyn, New York, organized by the Brooklyn Labor Day Parade Committee. Other major parades occur in Detroit, Chicago, Boston, and Philadelphia. The union movement has organized Labor Day events since the 1880s; the holiday remains an important political occasion for organized labor.
The "End of Summer" framing of Labor Day is significant in American culture. Schools often begin their academic year immediately after Labor Day. The Major League Baseball regular season traditionally ends around Labor Day. Many beaches close for the season after Labor Day. The retail calendar treats Labor Day weekend as the last major summer sale event, with major retailers running "Labor Day Sales" on appliances, furniture, and back-to-school items.
Labor Day by the numbers
Sources
- U.S. Department of Labor, History of Labor Day: dol.gov
- 5 U.S.C. section 6103 (Federal holiday statute): law.cornell.edu
- Wikipedia, "Labor Day": en.wikipedia.org
History of Labor Day
Labor Day in the United States was first observed on September 5, 1882, by the Central Labor Union in New York City. The parade and picnic organised by the CLU became an annual event, and Oregon became the first state to make it a public holiday in 1887. The federal holiday was established in 1894, following the Pullman Strike and pressure from labor unions.
International Workers' Day
Many countries observe International Workers' Day on May 1 rather than the US Labor Day in September. May 1 was chosen by the Second International in 1889 to commemorate the Haymarket affair of 1884 in Chicago. International Workers' Day is a public holiday in most countries around the world, though its observance varies widely.
How it is observed
Labor Day in the United States is marked by parades, picnics, and the unofficial end of summer. Many US cultural institutions close for the holiday weekend, and consumer sales are common. Politicians often hold public speeches marking the day.
Labor Day outlook
Labor Day in the United States is increasingly framed as the end of summer rather than a celebration of labor unions. The union membership rate in the US has declined from a peak of around 35% in the 1950s to under 11% in 2023, and Labor Day parades have declined in many cities. The day remains important for retail sales and political speeches, but its original labor movement significance has faded in much of the country.
International Workers' Day on May 1 has retained its political significance in many countries and remains an important day for labor unions and political movements.