As Memorial Day marks the beginning of summer, Labor Day indicates the end. Gone are the barbecues, the lazy days on the beach, the picnics …

However, Labor Day - the first Monday in September - is an important day in our history, and is one to celebrate. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the holiday is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes an annual national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.

In 1894, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday.