On the first Monday in September, we always celebrate Labor Day. It’s a chance for many to enjoy a three-day weekend and a final opportunity to fire up the grill, go swimming and enjoy the outdoors before fall.

But, how many people know the history of Labor Day and why we celebrate it?

The first Labor Day was actually celebrated in New York City on a Tuesday on September 5, 1882.  The first government recognition of Labor Day came through municipal ordinances during 1885 and 1886, according to the U.S. Department of Labor website.

There’s still some debate over how the holiday got started though. Historians and records are split on who actually proposed the first Labor Day.

Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, a general secretary of Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder at the American Federation of Labor, was the first to suggest a day, but many also give credit to Matthew Maguire. Maguire the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in New Jersey, may have first proposed the holiday in 1982.

The first state bill was introduced in New York, but Oregon was the first state to actually pass a bill for the Labor Day holiday. By 1894, nearly 30 states had recognized the holiday.

Since then, Labor Day has grown into a nationwide celebration of the American worker.

We encourage anyone looking for something fun to do in Selma Monday to watch the Alabama River Raft Race. The Edmund Pettus Bridge and Riverfront Park are great places to watch the race and The Sandbar will have live music.