Labor Day 2026 is Monday, September 7th. What is the celebration all about? I think of Labor Day as being the last holiday of summer. With this in mind, I try to work in a little family fun in this three-day weekend.
Actually, Labor Day is to honor America’s workers. It is the result of a labor movement pushing for better working conditions. During the 1800’s there were no laws to protect workers. Workers were often required to work 12 hours per day for 7 day a week. Young children were often required to work in mines and mills with unsafe conditions.
It is unclear who first suggested the holiday for workers, but two workers can make a substantial claim to the Founder of Labor Day title. Some records show that in 1882, Peter McGuire suggested setting a day aside for labor workers. Others believe that machinist Matthew Maguire founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York.
In 1894 Labor Day became a legal holiday. Later in 1916 congress passed an eight-hour work day law and overtime pay for certain workers. For more information on Labor Day Holiday, check out dol.gov.
Easy Cream Cheese Fruit Cobbler
1 box yellow cake mix
1 can fruit pie filling – cherry, peach, or blueberry
1 package 8 oz cream cheese, softened
½ cup sugar
1 egg
½ teaspoon vanilla
½ cup butter, melted
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spread pie filling evenly over 9 x 13 greased baking dish.
In a bowl, beat softened cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla until smooth. Drop by spoonsful onto fruit filling. Sprinkle dry cake mix evenly over everything.
Drizzle melted butter over cake mix and cover as much as possible.
Bake 40-50 minutes until golden and bubbly.
Let it cool for 15 minutes before serving. Great with ice cream!
Submitted by: Jan Knowles, Elmwood/Chestnut Mound FCE Club
