Did You Know? Fun Facts About Labor Day

                     The first ever Labor Day Parade.

1. Labor Day was started by Peter McGuire, who is considered the father of the holiday. He was an Irish-American union leader who wanted citizens that “labored” all year long be honored and have a day off to relax.
2. Labor Day has been a nationally celebrated holiday in the U.S. since 1894 and is also honored in Canada.
3. The first Labor Day parade was held in New York City on Sept. 5, 1882, eight months before the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge.
4. Organizers picked the first week of September to celebrate Labor Day because it’s the downtime between the 4th of July and Thanksgiving. 
5. Oregon was the first state to make Labor Day an official holiday. This happened in 1887, five years after the very first parade.
6. President Grover Cleveland decided that the first Monday of every September would be set aside to celebrate Labor Day. 
7. During the Industrial Revolution, Americans worked (on average) 12-hour days, seven days a week. And it wasn’t just adults. Young children worked in factories and mills throughout the nation.
8. Labor Day is celebrated on a different day in most countries. Many have chosen May Day (May 1st) as their day to honor working people.
9. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it takes the average American nearly 30 minutes to get to their job. 
10. Remember the old adage about not being able to wear white after Labor Day? Fear not, wearing white all year long is now an acceptable practice.