From May 1, 1886 the May 1 has been recognized as the Labour Day, when the workers of the world pledge to unite and continue with their protracted struggle against the onslaughts of globalized mercantile capitalism. But still there are many who prefer to ask, "What is Labour Day?" Now, though I am quite aware of its significance, if someone asks all of a sudden I may also be at a fix! But though it originated in the USA and is widely celebrated throughout the world, this very day has hardly any significance in this country! On the contrary, on the first Monday of the month of September, we in America celebrate Labour Day. But however a great doubt persists over the knowledge of the commoners over the notion to celebrate Labour Day. Many know that it is one the first day of September and also happens to be the official end of summer. Then? Anything left? Certainly! It is used to denote the commencement of the New Year at the school, but with more schools returning to classes in middle or late August that is no longer the case, though the beaches and other summer activities continue throughout Labour Day weekend. So how people celebrate Labour Day? Going to beaches. Isn't it! Do they know that the convention of celebrating Labour Day as a national holiday is over one hundred years old? At the beginning there used to be an innovative conception of labour union celebration, but by now there is no such zeal to celebrate Labour Day and has become symbolic of the end of summer activities. It all had its beginning in the year 1882 in the city of New York as a parade by the Knights of Columbus to give credit for the contributions to New York life of working class citizens. Even in 1884, there was a large parade organized by the Knights to celebrate Labour Day of the working class. The first Monday in September was chosen for the date of the parade, and the Knights decided to hold all future parades on that day. From then on the Knights designated the first Monday in September as Labour Day.

However, the situation is just the opposite with the socialist world. There happens to be no such pomp and splendor when people move to celebrate Labour Day on May 1. On that very day, the martyrs are remembered with grieved heart and silent tears, to be followed by iron willed pledges. Starting from the Hey Market in Chicago on May 1, 1886 this very day has been very auspicious in the international perspective. With the Bolshevik Revolution, rise of Soviet Union as the citadel of the socialist order, to be followed by many others, getting influenced by the ideals of Marxism this day has assumed a certain dignity that was even beyond the imagination. However the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the East Europe in 1991 though has undoubtedly reduced the vanity of May 1, but none has been able to wipe it out or to prevent people to celebrate Labour Day! In respect of the United States of America, the Socialists and Communists have taken up the cudgel to commemorate and celebrate Labour Day, on May 1. To maintain the difference and also to disassociate itself from any identification with Communism the first Monday in September was selected.

Keep it in concern that toward the end of the last decade of the 1800's, labour organizations to lobby state legislatures to observe Labour Day as an official state holiday. In 1887, the first states declared it a state holiday: Oregon, Colorado, New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. In 1894, Congress passed a law that designated Labour Day as an official national holiday.