Observed on the first Monday of September, Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers. It was created by the labor movement in the late 19th century at the height of the Industrial Revolution in the United States where the average American worked 12-hour days and 7-day weeks in order to earn a basic living. Thus on September 5 1882, 10,000 workers took unpaid time off to march from City Hall to Union Square in New York City, holding the first Labor Day Parade in U.S. history. This day became a federal holiday in 1894. Labor Day also symbolizes the end of summer for many Americans, and is celebrated with parties, barbecues, parades and athletic events.