Who doesn’t love a long weekend? Luckily, we can always count on Labor Day to give us that extra day of relaxation, barbecue, and the perfect excuse to enjoy some fun under the summer sun. Of course, the holiday is a lot more than meets the eye. We could always use a little refresher on why we celebrate and what makes Labor Day more than summer’s last hurrah.
First things first—when is Labor Day in 2021?
Mark those calendars for Monday, September 6, 2021. Labor Day always falls on the first Monday of September. Although the calendar date tends to change each year, you can always count on showing off those grilling skills during the first weekend of September.
Just based on the name alone, you can probably guess that Labor Day has something to do with work. And you’d be completely right! But, did you know the holiday has a captivating history that dates all the way back to the late 1800s?
Labor Day honors the important social and economic contributions of U.S. workers. What better way to do that than with a three-day weekend to squeeze those last-minute summer activities that you’ve added to your to-do list? It’s important to remember that the history behind Labor Day wasn’t always as dandy as enjoying local parades and scoring some of the year’s best shopping deals.RELATED STORYWhich Stores Are Open on Labor Day?
Labor Day was born out of U.S. workers’ experiences and struggles to improve poor working conditions. When the Industrial Revolution was at its peak, employees of large manufacturing companies often endured 12+ hour workdays for seven days a week. Not to mention, their facilities were far from safe or sanitary. In response, workers began to protest because obviously there were some serious changes that needed to be made. Now that we know a bit more about the holiday, it’s time to make the most of our last moments this summer 2021.
