why do we celebrate labor day?

Labor Day is celebrated to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the contributions of workers to the nation's strength, prosperity, and well- being. It originated in the late 19th century as a way to celebrate workers' achievements, especially during a period when working conditions were harsh, with long hours, low pay, and unsafe environments. The first Labor Day parade was organized by labor unions in New York City in 1882 to demonstrate the strength and solidarity of workers. It became a national holiday in the United States in 1894, chosen in part to distinguish it from International Workers' Day on May 1, which has socialist origins and commemorates labor strikes such as the Haymarket Affair in Chicago. The U.S. government selected the first Monday in September for Labor Day as a conciliatory gesture to the labor movement following unrest, such as the Pullman Strike, and to provide a federal holiday to celebrate workers' contributions.