LABOR DAY The History Behind This All American Holiday The labor holiday is more than BBQs and time to stop wearing white clothing. COPYRIGHTED 68 | september <strong>2023</strong> | www.<strong>Atlantic</strong><strong>Ave</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>.com
Labor Day is the unofficial end to the summer season. Up north the leaves begin to turn, here – our seasonal residents return, and the temperatures cools a bit. Labor Day is always celebrated on the first Monday of <strong>September</strong>. This year, Labor Day is <strong>September</strong> 4, <strong>2023</strong>. Why do we celebrate Labor Day? The idea of Labor Day emerged in the late 19th century out of the organized labor movements. In <strong>September</strong> 1882, unions in New York decided to throw themselves a parade to celebrate unions as a concept and the hard-working people comprising them. Even though workers had to give up a day’s pay to attend, more than 20,000 people showed up to the parade. It was a celebration of historic proportions. Soon, unions in other states started having <strong>September</strong> parades, and within five years, several states declared “Labor Day” official state holidays. In 1894, 12 years after the first labor parade in New York, President Grover Cleveland signed an act establishing Labor Day as a federal holiday on the first Monday of every <strong>September</strong>. How do we celebrate Labor Day now? While some towns still have Labor Day parades similar to the original Labor Day festivities of the 19th century, the general focus of the holiday has shifted more toward celebrating the end of summer. Cookouts and pool parties are much more in favor now than marching bands and union speeches. And Labor Day is usually a busy time for travel. Still, the original spirit of honoring the work force remains, and Labor Day is a paid holiday for most American workers. According to the U.S. Travel Association, more than half of all working Americans don’t use all of their paid vacation days. In a country that works so much, having a day off is an ideal way to celebrate and recharge for the fall. That, and amazing sales! When do Labor Day sales start? Another tradition of Labor Day in America is the discounts! Labor Day is on Monday, <strong>September</strong> 5, but Labor Day sales usually start the weekend before and, in some cases, up to a week in advance. If you’re in the market for something large like a kitchen appliance, a washer/dryer, or a mattress, Labor Day is an excellent time to go shopping because big ticket items often get the most notable discounts around this time of year. Can you wear white after Labor Day? Wearing white after Labor Day has long been considered a fashion faux pas. However, no one is certain where the rule “you cannot wear white after Labor Day” came from. Some fashion historians say it was pure classist snobbery — a social more set in place by the American nouveau riche as a way to easily denote who was wealthy and who wasn’t, because people with less money could not afford seasonal clothes. Others say that not wearing white after Labor Day simply came about because Labor Day marked the end of summer and white was traditionally thought of as summer-wear. As the weather turned colder, people began to favor darker clothing, like gray sweaters and dark navy suits. Over time this trend became fashion tradition. Despite what fashionistas might say, it’s not a hard and fast rule. Fashion icon Coco Chanel wore white yearround, so there’s no reason not to wear your favorite white clothes anytime you please! COPYRIGHTED www.<strong>Atlantic</strong><strong>Ave</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>.com | september <strong>2023</strong> | 69
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