Labor Day

Labor Day originated from labor union movements, an 8-hour day movement to be specific. In few countries, it is celebrated along with international workers day on May 1st. In few other countries, it is celebrated on the last weekend of August, which is also called Labor Day weekend. This is also the end of summer holidays. Labor Day is a holiday in most of the places and all banks and public organization are closed.

History:

Labor Day is a day to celebrate and honor the workers who had been part of the labor movements and their achievements. It’s a yearly tribute to the workers who have contributed to the prosperity, strength, and well-being of the country.

In India, the movements were associated with socialist and communist political parties. On 1st May 1923, the first Labor Day celebration was held in India. In Chennai (then known as “Madras”), Labor Kisan Party of Hindustan organized this event. On that day, the resolution for declaring the Labor Day as a holiday was passed.

The first holiday in accordance with Labor Day was celebrated on 5th September 1882, in New York City, with Central Labor Union. Soon after, other parties followed them in celebrating “workingmen’s holiday”. In USA, the first government recognition came by 1885. In New York, the first bill got passed by 21st February in the year 1887. Some say that Peter McGuire’s is the founder of Labor Day, while others say it is Matthew Maguire.

The forces of labor have contributed to the highest standard of living. Therefore, it is just appropriate that the nation and people pay tribute and honor to all workers on Labor Day as they are the main driving force of every nation’s strength, leadership and , freedom.

Labor Day is different than any other holiday we celebrate. While most of them are connected to man’s never ending thirst for power and greed over our own kind and victory of nation over another, Labor Day celebrates the mankind efforts, and it is not devoted to any one particular person, nation or race.

Labor Day celebrations:

In New Zealand, Labor Day is held on the fourth Monday in October. As most of other countries, it is also related to the labor movement for eight-hour working day. The movement started in the Wellington colony in 1840.

In Canada, since the 1880′s, Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday in September. The origin is tracked back to 1872 December. There was a parade in support of the strike by Toronto Typographical Union’s for a 58-hour work-week.
Australians celebrate labor movement as others, for achieving a working day limited to eight hours. Labor Day public holiday is fixed on different days in various states. In the Australian Capital, it is the first Monday in October. In South Australia, New South Wales, and in Western Australia, it is the first Monday in March. Northern Territory celebrates Labor Day on the first Monday in May.

In the United States, Labor Day is a federal holiday. It is celebrated in greatly on the first Monday of September. It is customarily seen as the end of the summer vacation. Most of the education institutes open the day after Labor Day.

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