It’s Labor Day! Let’s have a picnic! Let’s go to a ball game! Or, let’s just take it easy!

In the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, Labor Day is a national holiday. It is celebrated on the first Monday in September. Because of this, Labor Day has become a symbol of the end of summer.

The idea for Labor Day probably came from a carpenter names Peter McGuire. At a labor union meeting, McGuire suggested that a special day be set aside to honor working people. This new holiday was first observed in New York City on September 5, 1882.

Many countries celebrate a special day for working people. In New Zealand, this day is called Labour Day. It is celebrated on the fourth Monday in October. In Australia, the date of Labour Day, also called Eight-Hour Day, varies from state to state. And in Europe, many countries celebrate Labor Day on May 1.

Labor Day is often a time often a time for parades, picnics, and special events. But many working people like to use their special day as a time for “taking it easy.” ~ Angela Adams

There is, however, a limit at which forbearance ceases to be a virtue. ~ Edmund Burke