What we don’t know about Labor Day could fill a book, but we’ll stick to a few historical facts and some fun details. If you live in the U.S., tomorrow is Labor Day, a day to celebrate, a day off work, a day to party, right? But what are we celebrating exactly, and why? And what’s the deal with not wearing white after Labor Day anyhow?
Did you know that the first Labor Day was not a celebration but a protest? The idea originated in Canada in 1872, when a group held a parade in support of a strike against a 58-hour workweek. The first U.S. Labor Day was held on September 5, 1882, in New York’s Union Square.
Labor Day, of course, is intrinsically linked to the history of labor unions. A response to the industrial revolution of the mid 19th century, labor unions were first formed by groups of skilled tradespeople in an effort to ensure fair wages and work environments. The trend moved quickly to embrace those working in manufacturing and beyond.
Oregon was the first state to make Labor Day an official holiday way back in 1887. It wasn’t until 1894 that Labor Day became a Federal Holiday in the U.S. President Grover Cleveland signed Labor Day into law to appease the workers in the wake of the Pullman Strike.
So we know Labor Day is a day to celebrate the working men and women by recognizing them with a day off. Yay! We all deserve a day off to recognize our hard work. But, where did the color white come in?
In the early 1900s, it was common practice for high society city folk to decamp to beaches, cabins, lakes, or mountains for the summer. Part of the move out of the city included donning a different wardrobe. City clothes tended to be dark and either utilitarian or formal, depending, of course, upon your place in society. But summer clothes were light, airy, and loose. Lighter-weight fabrics and light colors or white were de rigueur.
Since summer was defined as the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day, it was not appropriate to wear your summer clothes once you returned to the city after Labor Day. And so the dictum “No white after Labor Day” was born.
Did you know that…
Without labor unions, we would not have weekends.
Because of labor unions, we have a 40-hour workweek and an 8-hour workday.
Some form of Labor Day is celebrated in more than 80 countries around the world.
The first Waffle House Restaurant opened on Labor Day in 1955 in Avondale Estates, GA.
Enjoy your Labor Day!
