Labor Day: A Time of Relaxation

It is a national holiday that will be celebrated among American citizens all across the United States. Over half of Americans will choose to spend it barbecuing, while the other percentage of Americans will spend it traveling. According to AAA and Mid-Atlantic there is an expected 10% rise on travel expenses from 2009. This includes airfare, money spent on hotels, and money spent on gasoline.

According to WGMD, 34.4 million people are expected to travel at least 50 miles away from their home. Last year only 31.3 million Americans traveled from their homes to celebrate Labor Day weekend.

The director of AAA-Mid Atlantic commented to WGMD saying “while media reports on the state of the U.S. economy are mixed, many Americans are still interested in taking one more trip as the summer travel season comes to a close.” Airlines, train stations, bus terminals, and gas stations are thrilled to see the improvement form 2009 to 2010.

The first ever recorded Labor Day was September 5, 1882. It was held in New York City. In 1894 after a brutal Pullman strike occurred, killing a number of people from the U.S. Marshalls and U.S. military, the Government decided to declare September 1 as a national holiday. Soon all 50 states declared Labor Day as a national holiday. 

Parades followed in the streets to celebrate the working men and women of America. Festivals were thrown for workers and their families all over the United States. Today some companies and organizations still throw a Labor Day picnic for employees and their families to attend. This is to show thanks and appreciation for all of what they have done for their company.  Others choose to spend it away from their place of work altogether. Families stay home and celebrate with friends and family, while others take the chance for a family vacation.

Other fun ways to spend Labor Day weekend are water sports, parades, picnics and other outings.

Labor Day is seen as the end of hot summer days and colder nights to come. Enjoy the sun and warmth with family and friends before winter makes its appearance.