Today is Labor Day in the United States.  Labor Day is always celebrated on the first Monday in September.  This is a holiday that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers. This is a holiday for workers, similar to the Labor Day holiday many other countries celebrate on May 1st.  This holiday celebrates people who work and the contributions they make to society.  And what better way to celebrate works than giving them a day off.  This is a federal holiday in the Untied States which mean everyone who works for the government has the day off and most other people also have this day off from work too.

The way this holiday was celebrated in the past included street parades, festivals, and speeches by prominent men and women in labor movements.  Today this holiday is regarded as a day of rest, parties and often big sales in stores. Speeches or political demonstrations are no longer common and parades are also less common.  Many people celebrate this holiday like they celebrate other summer holidays, with picnics, barbecues, and fireworks. Many families with school-age children take this holiday as the last chance to travel before the end of summer and the children go back to school.  In fact Labor Day has come to be celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer.

For sports fans Labor Day marks the beginning of the National Football League season as well as the college football league season.  Most elementary, middle and high schools in the United States also start the school year the day following Labor Day.  College students often go back to school in late August before Labor Day.  For children Labor Day marks the end of summer vacation and the beginning of the school year, which can be both sad and exciting.

Happy Labor Day everyone!