Happy Labor Day!

Observed the first Monday in September, Labor Day is an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of the American worker. According to the U.S. Labor Department, the holiday is rooted in the late 19th century when activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the role workers play in bettering the country.

Before it was a federal holiday, Labor Day was recognized at cities around the country dating back to 1885 to 1886. New York was the first state to introduce a bill, but Oregon was the first to pass a law recognizing Labor Day on Feb. 21, 1887. It wasn’t until June 28, 1894 that Congress passed an act making the first Monday of September each year a legal holiday.

Federal holiday

Labor Day is a federal holiday, meaning government offices are closed. It also means Post Offices are closed and mail will not run on Monday, Sept. 4. Services will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 5.

Labor Day is the seventh postal holiday, following New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr., President’s Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day and Independence Day.

After Labor Day will be Columbus Day (Oct. 9), Veterans Day (Nov. 11), Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 23) and Christmas Day (Dec. 25.)