May Day was chosen to commemorate the 1886 Haymarket Affair in Chicago, where a labor protest turned violent.
: Credit for the idea is often split between two men with similar names: Peter J. McGuire , a co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, and Matthew Maguire , a machinist and secretary of the Central Labor Union. How It is Celebrated
: The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is known as "hot dog season," during which Americans consume an estimated 7 billion hot dogs. Global Context (May Day vs. Labor Day) Labor Day
: Following the violent Pullman Strike in 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed legislation on June 28, 1894, making Labor Day a federal legal holiday. This was partly an effort to reconcile with organized labor after the strike.
The U.S. government intentionally chose the September date to avoid the socialist and radical connotations associated with May Day at the time. May Day was chosen to commemorate the 1886
: Oregon was the first state to pass a law recognizing Labor Day in 1887.
While North America celebrates in September, more than 150 other countries observe on May 1 . How It is Celebrated : The period between
Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States and Canada that honors the achievements and contributions of workers. Historically rooted in the labor movement of the late 19th century, it is traditionally celebrated on the . History and Origins