Labor Day is often highly celebrated by students, as it marks a rare three day weekend. However, most people are unaware of how labor day began, or what it really celebrates. So who do we have to thank for this holiday? Well, the identity of the creator of Labor Day is actually a pretty controversial topic. Some believe that Peter J. McGuire, a co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, was the first to suggest a holiday to honor blue collar workers. Many people believe that it was actually Matther Maguire, a machinist, who founded the holiday. Maguire proposed the holiday while serving as secretary of the Central labor Union in New York in 1882.

No matter who first proposed the idea of Labor Day, the holiday has always been about the celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers. Without the contributions of these workers, our country would not be able to function, nor would it be able to attain the level of prosperity it has reached today.

So maybe by the next time the first Monday in September rolls around, you’ll have a little more appreciation for this holiday’s history and its significance.