Today, the US celebrates Labor Day as a national holiday. For many of us, it used to mark the end of summer and the day before the first day of school. But with many schools starting the year in August, that has been lost.

I suspect few don’t know what Labor Day represents more than just a day to go shopping or simply a day off work.

I found some material on the official US Department of Labor page that unveils the history of the holiday.

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated in September 1882 in New York City. Within 12 years, 23 other states had followed suit. So, on June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed a law making the first Monday in September of each year a national holiday.

The holiday was “a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.”

Enjoy this short three-minute video from the History Channel (from 2010) while you lie around the backyard.