Today is American Labor Day, observed on the first Monday in September. Today this holiday often marks the end of summer. For most of us, it means a long weekend. It has some interesting historical aspects worth noting.
Both American Labor Day and International Workers' Day, also known as May Day, have their roots in the late 19th-century labor movement in the United States. American Labor Day originated in New York in 1882, while May Day was established to commemorate the Haymarket Riot in Chicago in May 1886.
The Haymarket Riot, or Haymarket Massacre, is a pivotal event in international labor history, having a profound impact on the fight for workers' rights, including the push for an eight-hour workday. The violence and subsequent crackdown during the riot became symbols of both the struggle for labor rights and the repression of international labor movements. As a result, May 1st was designated as International Workers' Day, a day recognized worldwide to honor workers and their sacrifices.
Although the Haymarket Riot galvanized the global labor movement, it left a notorious legacy in the U.S. Due to the suspected association with anarchists and socialists, and its perceived radicalism, the riot was viewed unfavorably in its own country. The Haymarket Martyrs were labeled as radicals and criminals rather than being commemorated as heroes.
In response to these tensions, and following the Pullman Strike of 1894—a nationwide railroad strike that resulted in significant disruptions and federal intervention—President Grover Cleveland sought to improve relations with the labor movement. To distance American Labor Day from the violent connotations of the Haymarket affair and avoid associating the U.S. labor movement with its radical elements, Cleveland signed a law establishing Labor Day as a national holiday on the first Monday in September.
A Chinese saying, 避实就虚 (Bì shí jiù xū), translates to “Avoid the reality, choose the illusion.” This saying implies avoiding difficult or controversial issues in favor of something less contentious.
By establishing American Labor Day on the first Monday in September rather than May 1st, the U.S. government chose to 避实就虚, distancing itself from the contentious history of the Haymarket Riot and promoting a more neutral and uncontroversial observance.