Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer, and the 2024 holiday is looming closer.
The official end of summer is a few weeks away, as the first day of fall is on Sept. 22, according to the Farmers Almanac.
Here is what you need to know about Labor Day and the history behind it:
When is Labor Day 2024?
Labor Day is on Monday, Sept. 2.
What is the history of Labor Day?
Labor Day became a national holiday in 1894 under then-President Grover Cleveland. The holiday was to be observed on the first Monday in September annually, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Labor Day dates back to the labor movement of the 19th century, where labor activists pushed for the holiday to recognize that it was workers who were behind America’s prosperity, according to the federal department. The first recorded Labor Day celebration took place in 1882 in New York.
Americans in the late 1800s worked 12-hour days for a basic living, and children worked in mills, factories and mines, earning far less than adults, according to the History Channel. During this time period, labor unions increased their efforts to call for better working conditions, hours and pay.
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In the lead-up to Labor Day becoming a national holiday, there was a strike at the Pullman Palace Car Company in Chicago in 1894 and later a boycott of all trains carrying Pullman cars, according to Northern Illinois University’s digital library. Disruption to rail traffic across the nation occurred, and federal troops were sent to Chicago, changing a “largely peaceful strike” into clashes that left dozens of people dead or injured, according to the library.
Can you wear white after Labor Day?
Yes, you can wear white after Labor Day, contrary to a rule that says otherwise. This rule can be traced back to the late 19th century and the old money elite trying to “elevate themselves above” the newly wealthy. Another possibility behind this rule is that people swapped their light summer clothes for darker tones and thicker fabrics due to the changing seasons, USA TODAY reported.
What’s the difference between Labor Day and Memorial Day?
You may have confused Labor Day with Memorial Day, or vice versa. Both national holidays on Mondays; they’re the hallmarks of summer (beginning or ending); and they bring about sales.
But Memorial Day is about honoring those who died in service to America, observed annually on the last Monday in May, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.
This past Memorial Day was on May 27.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Labor Day 2024: When is it, history behind it, wearing white after it
