Labor Day Weekend 2012: Fun Facts About the End-of-Summer Holiday

Before you heat up the grill to begin the festivities for this Labor Day weekend, check out some fun facts about the holiday that salutes the millions of hardworking American men and women nationwide.

Although Labor Day actually began in Canada, the first U.S. observance took place on Tuesday, September 5, 1882. The Central Labor Union organized a parade in NYC, where 10,000 workers marched up Broadway.

Labor Day is ranked the third most popular holiday weekend for barbecuing - following July 4th and Memorial Day.

According to the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council, hot dog season begins on Memorial Day and ends on Labor Day. So if you happen to eat a hot dog any time between mid-Sept and late-May, you're not eating in style.

Since lots of teens and young adults view Labor Day as the last true weekend to party before the end of summer, highway accident stats prove that Labor Day weekend is the most dangerous time to travel on U.S. highways. But the youngsters are right, many consider Labor Day weekend to be the "true end of summer."

Oregon was the first state to make Labor Day a holiday in 1887. Congress officially made it a national holiday (for the District of Columbia and its surrounding territories) on June 28, 1894.

The NFL plays its first official season game the Thursday after Labor Day 99.44% of the time.

The rule still holds - you're not supposed to wear white after Labor Day (the reason as to why is still hard to come by, but many speculate it all has to do with the temperature - white keeps you cool in the summer).

So have fun celebrating this Monday, Sept. 3!