6 True Facts About Labor Day You Probably Didn't Know

If you're lucky, you might have a long weekend for Labor Day, a holiday celebrated during the first weekend in September. But do you know what Labor Day's all about? Read on for some fun facts about this all-American holiday:

1. No One Knows Who Started Labor Day

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While the historical record tells us that President Grover Cleveland signed the holiday into law on June 28, 1894, people were honoring the day for more than a decade before that. Like many aspects of the labor movement, choosing the first weekend in September for marches, rallies, and demonstrations seems to have been a collective decision that we can't trace back to a particular individual.

Seems fitting that a holiday honoring the power of the people doesn't belong to just one person!

2. Labor Day Takes Place On Monday - By Law!

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Labor Day was first made a federal holiday in 1894, but over fifty years later, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act was passed, making Labor Day, Memorial Day, and President's Day always take place on a Monday. That way, federal employees who get that day off are guaranteed a three day weekend.

3. The First Labor Day Parade Was A Huge Party - And Almost A Huge Disaster

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The first Labor Day Parade was held in New York in 1882, over a decade before it was officially made a federal holiday. William McCabe was the Grand Marshall, but the parade was hindered by the fact that very few people showed up to march, and they had nowhere to go because of the huge number of spectators.

The parade finally got going when marchers and musicians from the Jewelers Union arrived, and eventually thousands of people joined the march. The day then turned into a massive party, with people drinking, climbing lampposts, and having a great time.

4. Labor Day Wasn't Always Called Labor Day

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The holiday we now know as "Labor Day" started out as the "Workingmen's Holiday" and was supported by the "Workingmen's Party," also known as the "Workies." The much more inclusive term "Labor Day" became the days official name when it was recognized as a state and national holiday.

5. Labor Day Has A Violent & Political Origin Story

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Today, we associate Labor Day with back-to-school sales and hot dogs by the pool - but it wasn't always such a peaceful day. In fact, the holiday was made official by the federal government in response to the Pullman Strike.

After a railroad company called the Pullman Palace Car Company slashed wages, the workers went on strike and initiated a boycott. With support from organized labor unions from all over the country, the Pullman workers were able to significantly disrupt railroad traffic, leading the federal government to issue an injunction that allowed federal troops to use violence against strikers.

As the country saw violence, riots, arrests, and even deaths, sympathy with the labor movement grew. In an attempt to show support for the "working man," President Grover Cleveland made Labor Day a national holiday in 1894.

6. Not Everyone Gets Labor Day Off

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While the holiday began as a way to honor the working people of America, most people don't actually get Labor Day off. Even though it's designated as a federal holiday, private businesses can still require employees to work on Labor Day.

In fact, most stores remain open on Labor Day for special sales, a recent tradition that gained momentum in the early 2000s.