What day is Labor Day?

Labor Day occurs on the first Monday of September, regardless of the date. The first Labor Day was initially celebrated on a Tuesday, on Sept. 5, 1882, by a labor union in New York City. On June 28, 1894, Congress passed an act declaring Labor Day a national holiday.

Originally, Labor Day was used not only as a day to celebrate the worker but as a time to put forth objections and to strategize how to address injustices against workers. Labor Day celebrations began with street parades, concerts and picnics to honor workers. Over time, Labor Day morphed into a day free of work and filled with festivities that include speeches, displays, sporting events and public activities.