美国正在过劳动节，这是一个为表彰美国工人及他们对国家经济贡献而设定的节日。
在19世纪80年代，人们开始推动对美国工人的关注，当时他们可能每天工作至少12小时，每周工作6天，工资微不足道。条件恶劣的工厂里甚至有5岁的儿童。医疗保健福利闻所未闻。
美国各州一个一个地起草并通过立法，专门指定一天来表彰普通工人的贡献。
美国国会在1884年6月28日通过一项法案，指定每年9月的第一个星期一为劳动节，使之成为联邦假日。
近年来，随着技术的发展和世界经济的全球化，美国工会成员人数有所减少，但工会数十年来争取到的工人福利现在在大多数美国工作场所都成为惯例，包括八小时工作日、每周工作五天、医疗保险和带薪假期等。
为了和设立劳动节的初衷保持一致，美国一些城市仍然举行表彰工人和工会的游行，以及为工人和其家人提供娱乐的节日活动。
不过大多数美国人在休假这一天与家人共度时光，在后院烧烤或前往公园和海滩。
美国的劳动节也被看作是夏季结束的非正式象征，因为新学年通常在劳动节后开始。尽管现在越来越多的学校在八月份就开学。
The United States is observing Labor Day, a day set aside to honor U.S. workers and their contributions to the country’s economy.
In the 1880’s, there was a push to recognize the U.S. worker, who back then was likely to be working at least 12 hours a day, six days a week, with a paltry salary. Even children as young as five were often part of a factory’s dingy landscape. Health care benefits were unheard of.
One by one, states drafted and passed legislation that set aside a day to honor the contributions of the common worker.
On June 28, 1884, Congress passed an act designating the first Monday in September of each year as Labor Day, making it a national holiday.
In recent years, labor unions have seen their membership dwindle with the growth of technology and the globalization of the world economy.
However, the workers’ benefits unions fought for decades ago are now customary in most U.S. workplaces, including the eight-hour work day, five-day work weeks, health care insurance and vacations paid for by employers.
In keeping with the original intent of the holiday, some U.S. cities continue to stage parades honoring trade and labor unions, and hold festivities for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families.
However, most workers in the U.S. have the day off and spend time with their families, gathering for backyard cookouts or trips to parks and beaches.
Labor Day has become known as the unofficial end of summer since schools usually reopened from summer vacation after Labor Day. But now, more and more schools are reopening in August.