If Memorial Day is the official start of summer, then Labor Day is the bookend that brings it to a close. And really, the sentiment behind the holiday should always be top of mind — especially as we gear up for the busy season ahead.
Labor Day, which always falls on the first Monday in September (FYI, September 5 this year), makes for a three-day weekend packed with backyard barbecues, baseball games and end-of-the-season beach trips.
But the federal holiday wasn’t always the fancy-free, idyllic day we’ve come to know and love. Many Americans don’t realize just how much it’s steeped in history, and that it actually came about as a result of working people simply wanting to be treated fairly.
Before you beeline to the beach (or wherever else the long weekend takes you), read these fun and fascinating Labor Day facts to learn more about the holiday’s past and present.
