Americans celebrate Labor Day this year on September 5.The national holiday began more than 100 years ago to honor low-paid factory workers.Labor Day also informally marks the end of summer.Many students return to school after Labor Day.The hot days of summer turn cooler.Many Americans celebrate the holiday with an outdoor family barbecue.But Labor Day started with a struggle.On May 1, 1889, workers demonstrated on the streets of Paris, France.International Labor Day was born.Most industrialized countries in the world -- except the United States and Canada -- celebrate Labor Day on the first of May.The first American Labor Day celebration was held on September 5, 1882, in New York City.About 10,000 workers marched through the streets to show the strength of labor organizations.For many years after that, American workers used the first Monday in September to demand better working conditions and pay.Music was a part of many of those marches.
