6 things you need to know about Labor Day

In plans accorded by the Central Labor Union of NYC, the holiday was celebrated on September 5, 1882, three days after 10,000 workers marched for labor rights in Manhattan. At this time, the six day, 12 hour work week was the norm.

By this time, 23 states had adopted the holiday. President Grover Cleveland signed the first Monday of each September into law as the national holiday of Labor Day.

It took time for the modern eight-hour work day to catch up — it was established by the Adamson Act, passed by Congress on September 3, 1916.

One theory traces the no-white rule to the vacays of the wealthy in the early 20th century: summer retreats away from cities made it possible to wear white without worry about getting dirty.

A second theory is less sociological: you don’t need white summery clothing after Labor Day, which marks the end of summer.

A third theory is more market-conscious, pointing to the no-white rule as a byproduct of fashion mags that would start featuring fall clothes in their page after Labor Day.

Thanks to Labor Day sales, retail employees face some of their longest hours on the holiday that sought to make labor rights visible.