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Labor Day, celebrated in the United States and also in Canada (spelled Labour Day), have been held on the first Monday in September. The holiday originates in 1887, where in Oregon it was first celebrated. However, its roots are older and related to the wider international efforts by workers to celebrate a holiday. These worker movements were also affiliated with leftist political action, which has shaped the choosing of the date in the United States. The complex, often political history, of Labor Day has also shifted in recent periods.

====Origins of Labor Day====

The development of Labor Day developed through the history of the development of labor unions that arose as early as the late 18th century, particularly as factories and the Industrial Revolution began. With the rise and increasing growth of industrial development in the United States, labor unions increased in membership and, by extension, influence throughout the mid-19th century. This was not unique to the United States, as countries in Europe began to have workers organize and at times begin to conduct protests or even strikes.<ref>For more on the development of labor unions, see: Skurzynski, G. (2008) <i>Sweat and blood: a history of U.S. labor unions. People’s history</i>. Minneapolis, Twenty-First Century Books.</ref>

====Developments in the Late 19th and early 20th Century====

In the United States, celebrations in September 5th in celebrating labor had occurred by 1882. The American Federation of Labor and the Central Labor Union were two organizations that had advocated for a day to celebrate labor. Canada in the 1880s had also developed organized celebrations of labor in September, likely influencing US choice for the date. Trade unions in the United States had proposed a September date for a holiday throughout the 1880s. However, there was widespread disagreement, as many larger organizations, which wanted to link themselves with their colleagues in Europe, wanted to celebrate May 1 as Labor Day, holding events of remembering labor and to demonstrate against work conditions and wages. In 1887, Oregon became the first state to celebrate Labor Day.<ref>For more on how Labor day developed in the US states, see: Kevin Boyle (ed.) (1998) <i>Organized labor and American politics, 1894-1994: the labor-liberal alliance</i>. SUNY series in American labor history. Albany, State University of New York Press.</ref>

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The 8 hour workday, which is what the Haymarket demonstrates originally wanted, did eventually come to the United States. First, at local and company levels by the 1880s-1890s, but recognized through federal laws such as the Adamson Act in 1916. Many of the core reasons for strikes faded, although strikes often did reoccur as abuses were evident and economic hardships returned. Labor Day increasingly began to be associated as a end of summer holiday. Stores and markets began to use the event to market products. Schools began to organize their calendars around the Labor Day weekend, choosing to resume classes in the first Tuesday, although many still begin slightly earlier. As it is seen as the end of summer, it is also seen as the transition period for autumn sports and activities.<ref>For more on labor rights progress, see: Boyle 1998: 84.</ref>

Although Labor Day today is a Federal holiday, it is not mandated that all or most workers have the day off. Nevertheless, most employers in the United States recognize it as a holiday, although they are not required to make it a paid holiday. The ideas of Labor Day have not completely disappeared. It still holds significance particularly for those calling for increased minimum wage and other perceived injustice, although organized labor is far less influential today than in the late 19th century. This includes labor equality and calling for equal pay for men and women for similar roles.<ref>For modern movements on labor issues, see: Baldwin, R.E. (2003)<i> The decline of US labor unions and the role of trade</i>. Washington, D.C, Institute for International Economics.</ref>

Most official holidays in our calendar commemorate national or religious events. Labor day is a product of the Industrial Revolution, when organized labor and more radical movements began to organize against often appalling working conditions and low wages. The late 19th century witnessed several violent episodes where strikes were put down or economic disruption occurred. While many of the violent movements were put down, it was recognized something must be done to appease increasingly organized labor movements. With improved economic conditions, many forgot the reasons for why the day became established and today has mostly a symbolic meaning in the United States as the end of summer. Ironically events in the United States made May Day (May 1) an important date for organized labor internationally. For other countries, they have retained May 1 as the holiday for labor. In left-leaning states and governments, it is even seen as among the most important dates to celebrate.