Interesting Labor Day Facts

By Karen Kleinman

Since Labor Day is this coming Monday, I thought that it would be neat to share some interesting facts about this US National holiday.

First off, Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday in September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United States.

• The Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor, organized the first parade in New York City in 1882.

• In 1887, Oregon was the first state of the United States to make it an official public holiday.

• By the time it became an official federal holiday in 1894, thirty states in the U.S. officially celebrated Labor Day.

• Labor Day is called the "unofficial end of summer" because it marks the end of the cultural summer season.

• In the state of Virginia, the amusement park industry had successfully lobbied for legislation requiring most school districts in the state to have their first day of school after Labor Day, in order to give families another weekend to visit amusement parks in the state. The relevant statute has been nicknamed the "Kings Dominion law" after one such park. This law was repealed in 2019.

• In the state of Minnesota, the State Fair ends on Labor Day. Under state law, public schools normally do not begin until after the holiday. One reason given for this timing was to allow time for schoolchildren to show 4-H projects at the Fair.

• Labor Day weekend marks the beginning of many fall sports. NCAA teams usually play their first games that weekend, and the NFL traditionally play their kickoff game the Thursday following Labor Day.

• The Southern 500 NASCAR auto race has been held on Labor Day weekend at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina from 1950 to 2003 and since 2015. And, the National Hot Rod Association holds their finals of the NHRA U.S. Nationals drag race Labor Day weekend.

• About 80 foot races are held during the Labor Day weekend.

• Labor Day is the middle point between weeks one and two of the U.S. Open Tennis Championships.

• Labor Day was considered the last day when it is acceptable to wear white or seersucker.

• Not everybody gets to rest from their ;labor on Labor Day. To take advantage of large numbers of potential customers with time to shop, Labor Day has become an important weekend for discounts and allowances by many retailers in the United States, especially for back-to-school sales. Some retailers claim it is one of the largest sale dates of the year, second only to the Christmas season's Black Friday.

• In 1955, the first Waffle house opened it doors on Labor Day in Avondale Estates, GA.

• Labor Day is one of the busiest travel weekends for Americans, with about half the American population expected to travel.

• Labor Day is the official end of Hot Dog season, which starts on Memorial Day. It's estimated that Americans eat about 7 billion hot dogs during the time frame every year.

• Whether its hot dogs, steaks, burgers, or some other kind of meat, its estimated that at least 40% of Americans will be grilling out on Labor Day.

So if you have the day off or you will be working on Labor Day, the Mansell Media team wishes you the best day you can have with your family, friends, or co-workers!