Good morning and welcome to Kid News. I'm Kim.

Today is Monday, September 4, 2023, Labor Day in the U.S.

and also the unofficial end of summer.

Whether permitting that probably means you'll be squeezing in a little last minute,

beach or pool time, and maybe a barbecue.

But do you know the history of the holiday and why today is a day off for many people?

Labor means work, and Labor Day celebrates all the workers who help the country grow and prosper.

No one's exactly sure where the idea started, but the consensus is that it began with a peaceful protest in New York City over poor working conditions.

The demonstration was held on September 5, 1882, and involved all types of workers from seamstresses to bricklayers.

Many waiving banners that read Labor built this republic and Labor shall rule it.

The movement took hold. More cities followed New York's lead, and in June 1894,

President Grover Cleveland signed a bill into law making Labor Day a national holiday.

These days, Labor Day is always celebrated on the first Monday in September.

Schools are closed, and many parents don't have to work.

Some other interesting tidbits about the holiday, Labor Day is said to be the third most popular day in the United States for grilling.

No. 1 is the 4th of July, and No. 2 is Memorial Day.

Labor Day is considered the end of hotdog season and the beginning of football season.

The first official game is usually held the Thursday after the holiday, and this year it features defending Super Bowl 57 Champion Kansas City hosting Detroit.

Around 157 million people have jobs and work in the United States.

Four million of them are schoolteachers.

Many other countries celebrate Labor Day on May 1st.

It's the same day as May Day, and is called International Workers Day.

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