The first Labor Day was celebrated on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. A file photo of the first Labor Day parade, which happened in New York City.

Labor Day dates back to the labor movement of the 19 th century, where labor activists pushed for the holiday to recognize that it was workers who were behind America’s prosperity, according to ...

Labor Day honors the social and economic achievements of American workers. Its roots can be traced back to the Industrial Revolution and the labor movement activists of the late 19th century.

According to the Department of Labor, the first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City. Oregon was the first state to pass a law recognizing Labor Day in February 1887.

The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on Sept. 5, 1883. Today, the day is often celebrated with cookouts and family gatherings.