Happy Labor Day! The first Labor Day was celebrated 128 years ago in New York City as a tribute to the “social and economic achievements of American workers.” Oregon became the first state to actually make it a holiday, followed by Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania. Over the next ten years, most states had made it a holiday; in 1894, Congress officially made it a federal holiday.
Many Americans have the day off on Labor Day. Courts and government buildings are closed, as are most banks. It’s a good thing since the day traditionally marks the end of summer. Tomorrow, we’ll all be back to work – and some kids, like mine, will just be going back to school (I know that some of your kids have been in school since mid-August).
If you have the day off, enjoy it! If you don’t, be kind to those who are working today.
Labor Day is kind of a cruel joke for those of us who prepare tax returns with the September 15 deadline.