You might think you know all about Labor Day already: take a long weekend, have a picnic, enjoy a good day off, and pack away any clothing that's white.
Of course, there's more to Labor Day than that. The holiday, held the first Monday in September, is intended to honor the American worker, with a somewhat lengthy backstory that includes strikes and protests against unfair working conditions and child labor.
On Sept. 5, 1882, 10,000 workers took unpaid time off to march from City Hall to Union Square in New York City, holding the first-ever Labor Day parade, according to History.com. Working conditions and labor laws improved and we are left with a day off in September.
We traditionally celebrate with a well-earned day off, barbecue, and parades. But here are a few other ways to mark the day:
* Drop off a plate of cookies or other goodies to public safety personnel, nurses, or others who need to work the holiday.
* Take a farm or factory tour.
* Make your kids do a bunch of extra chores to remind them how good they have it now.
* If you're near Washington, D.C., the National Symphony Orchestra holds a free concert on the West lawn of the U.S. Capitol the Sunday before Labor Day. The Chicago Jazz Festival takes place Labor Day weekend for four days in Millennium Park.
* If you're near Cleveland, it hosts an Oktoberfest, a nod to the event that actually begins in September in Germany.