Labor Day Fun Facts

A Day Off Work to Celebrate Workers
Labor Day. It’s that other federal holiday Americans love for providing a 3-day weekend that comes after Memorial Day and Independence Day and before Veteran’s Day.
Famous for barbecues, the start of football season and a Monday off, Labor Day is also known unofficially as the holiday that marks the end of summer. It’s a holiday that celebrates the contributions of the millions of hardworking Americans that Labor every Day (see what we did there?) to make this country great! (We will resist the temptation to insert a Trump joke here, sorry.)
Since we typically capitalize on a major holiday for traffic to our blog and social media content purposes (and to shamelessly piggyback on the hashtags that accompany it, wink wink), we give you some fun facts about the Labor Day holiday:
Blame Canada
Labor Day is a US federal holiday. It is celebrated annually on the first Monday of September. But it is thought to have originated in Toronto, Canada in 1872 and adopted by the United States in the 1880s.
The first United States Labor Day was celebrated on September 5, 1882, in New York City. It was planned by the Central Labor Union with a parade of about 10,000 workers who took unpaid leave to have a parade. Thank you Canada!
The Oregon Trail
Oregon was the first US state to make Labor Day a legal holiday in 1887. We’re happy all of the other states followed their trail.

Get Into the Grove
During a railroad strike, President Grover Cleveland decided the first Monday of every September would be dedicated to celebrating Labor Day. On June 28, 1894, President Cleveland signed a law making it a federal holiday in June of 1894. Go Grover!
Eight is Enough
Back in the good ole 19th Century, Americans worked 7 days a week for about 12 hours a day to make a living. That included young children who were sweating it out in factories to help contribute. Today Americans work on average 8 hours a day for 5 days a week. Thanks to the Adamson Act, which was passed on September 3, 1916, federal law started regulating hours worked for private companies. Because the law was passed in early September, Labor Day also celebrates the Adamson Act. Remember, less is more!
Summer Bummer
Labor Day is seen as the unofficial last day of vacation before the start of the new school year. Bet your kids love this holiday, huh? Enjoy your last Monday off kiddies!
White Not?
No white after Labor Day? What?! Ever hear the saying that you’re not supposed to wear white after Labor Day? Watch 90s movies like Serial Mom and Never Been Kissed for scenes that mention it, when this was still a thing.

Because Labor Day traditionally marked the end of summer, people weren’t supposed to wear white after the holiday. Apparently this was a rich people thing. Back in the day rich folk would stow away their white clothes after summer as a leisure fashion statement. … Whatever.
Pigskin Party
Football season typically starts on or around Labor Day weekend. This is when many pro football teams play their first game of the year. Playing football is considered labor too, right?
Raw Deals
Not everybody gets to enjoy a 3-day weekend for Labor Day. In fact, it’s one of the biggest holiday weekends for US sales. Unfortunately for retail employees, that means laboring on Labor Day.  Retail workers are always getting screwed out of their holidays, aren’t they? No rest for the retail!
Cold Dogs
The worker’s holiday not only marks the end of summer, but it supposedly marks the end of hot dog season too. According to the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council (yup, that exists), hot dog season starts on Memorial Day and ends on Labor Day, coinciding with the end of baseball season. … What, football fans don’t eat hot dogs?
You didn’t think you would read this entire post and not get a shameless plug for Super Heat & Air now, did you? Yes, we are laboring on Labor Day weekend. So if you have any air conditioning emergencies or maintenance needs, give us a call at (727) 291-8571!
Be safe out there and Happy Labor Day weekend!
VIDEO: “See You Soon”