Labor Day offers a chance to relax and bid farewell to summer with a day off, but its significance runs much deeper for American workers. Celebrated on the first Monday of September, Labor Day honors the social and economic achievements of American workers.

The holiday's roots trace back to the late 1800s. The inaugural Labor Day was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, organized by the Central Labor Union. A year later, the union held its second Labor Day on the same date.

Efforts to secure state legislation followed municipal ordinances passed in 1885 and 1886. New York was the first state to propose a bill, but Oregon was the first to pass a law recognizing Labor Day on February 21, 1887.

As momentum grew, about 30 states voted to establish it as a holiday. On

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