When is Labor Day 2024 and why do we celebrate the holiday? What to know
Get ready to retire white from your wardrobe as this year's Labor Day weekend will come and go before you know it.
That's right, Labor Day, which honors American labor and the value of the hard-working people who provide it, is upon us.
With this being a federal holiday, U.S. Postal Service, local, state and federal offices and banks will be closed.
While it might mean another day off work, Labor Day also means that summer is coming to a close, and fall is near.
When is Labor Day 2024?
This year's annual Labor Day will be observed on Monday, Sep 2, 2024. Each year, Labor Day falls on the first Monday in September, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Since Labor Day is on a Monday, the preceding weekend is always "Labor Day Weekend."
This year, it the weekend begins on Friday. Aug. 30, 2024.
Why do we celebrate Labor Day?
Although Labor Day is all about city parades, barbecues and online shopping deals, the holiday is rooted in the tumultuous labor movement of the late 19th century. During this time, America's workers faced long hours, low wages and unsafe conditions.
At the height of the Industrial Revolution, labor unions and activists advocated and fought for better treatment for workers, which led to the establishment of a day dedicated to celebrating the members of trade and labor unions, according to History.com.
Organized by the Central Labor Union, the first Labor Day holiday was celebrated in 1882 in New York City, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. On that day, 10,000 workers took unpaid time off to march from City Hall to Union Square, according to History.com.
Labor Day is now also marked by speeches by elected officials and community leaders who emphasize the holiday's economic and civic significance.
How many more federal holidays are left in 2024
With the summer coming to a close, here's a look at the remaining federal holidays left on the 2024 calendar:
Labor Day: Sept. 2
Columbus Day: Oct. 14
Veterans Day: Nov. 11
Thanksgiving Day: Nov. 28
Christmas Day: Dec. 25
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Labor Day 2024: Learn the history behind the U.S. holiday
