The first Monday in September officially is Labor Day, an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, "The holiday is rooted in the late 19th Century when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being."
New York was the first state to introduce a bill involving Labor Day, but Oregon was the first to pass a law recognizing Labor Day -- on February 21, 1887.
That same year, four other states – Colorado, Massachusetts and New Jersey as well as New York – passed laws creating an official Labor Day holiday.
By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit. And, by 1894, 23 more states had adopted the holiday. Finally, on June 28, 1894, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a national legal holiday.
Although the Congressional act took precedence, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as "Labor Sunday," dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.
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