Labor Day is a holiday celebrating the American worker. From barbecues to getaways to shopping the sales, many people across the U.S. mark it by finding ways to relax. (AP Production by Elaine Carroll)
Signs announce a Labor Day sale in the window of a clothing store at a mall in Denver on Aug. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
Travelers arrive at Miami International Airport at the start of the Labor Day weekend in Miami, Aug. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The origins of Labor Day date back to the late 19th century, when activists first sought to establish a day that would pay tribute to workers.
The first U.S. Labor Day celebration took place in New York City on Sept. 5, 1882. Some 10,000 workers marched in a parade organized by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor.
