Celebrate Labour Day: A Look at the History of the Holiday

Tracing the Origins

Labour Day, also known as Fête du Travail, has been a statutory public holiday in Canada since the early 1900s. In the United States and Canada, this holiday is observed on the first Monday of September to honor workers and acknowledge their contributions to society.

The Foundation of Labour Day

The story of Labour Day began in the late 19th century when trade union and labor movements gained prominence. Various groups of trade unionists selected different days to commemorate their efforts. May 1, known as May Day, is celebrated as International Workers Day and Labour Day in numerous countries worldwide.

A Unified Celebration

To foster unity and strengthen the labor movement, the Knights of Labor in the United States proposed a national holiday to honor workers. In 1882, the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions of the United States and Canada passed a resolution calling for a Labor Day holiday. This resolution was unanimously approved, and the first official Labor Day was held on September 5, 1882.