August 25, Monday: As the weather is turning cold and autumn is coming near, Labor Day in the United States is a ritualistic goodbye to summer but also serves as a tribute to the working-class ethics that built the country. The holiday is observed annually on the first Monday of September every year, reported Yahoo News. In 2025, it will be observed on September 1.
The origin behind Labor Day
Oregon became the first state to enact Labor Day in 1887 and shortly after that, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York did the same. By the time President Grover Cleveland made it a federal holiday in 1894, 23 states had already implemented it.
How Americans celebrate the long weekend today?
Though its roots are in workers' rights, it is now also a time of family reunions, travel, and community events. Yahoo News emphasized that millions of Americans enjoy long weekends on vacation or road trips, with the data from AAA indicating Seattle, Orlando, and New York City as among the top choices for 2025.
To most, the weekend also translates to congested roads. Traffic congestion is anticipated on August 28–30 prior to the holiday, and on August 31–September 1 for coming back. Experts recommend traveling early in the mornings or late at night to escape the crowds.
Labor Day, then, is more than a day off, it's a celebration of the workers' work, a last hint of summer and a reminder of how far the American labor movement has progressed.
