September 5 is associated with events in labor history, global politics, literature and biography. Among the best-documented examples are New York City’s first Labor Day parade in 1882, the attack on the Israeli Olympic delegation in Munich in 1972, and the publication of Jack Kerouac’s On the Road in 1957. These are selected moments, not a complete list of everything that happened on the date.
What happened on September 5?
The date connects events from different places and centuries. The examples below identify the year and location so that September 5 is not mistaken for one specific annual event or a single country’s history.
Labor history: New York City’s first Labor Day parade, 1882
On September 5, 1882, about 10,000 workers assembled in New York City for what the Library of Congress describes as America’s first Labor Day parade. Organized by the Central Labor Union, the march went from City Hall past Union Square to 42nd Street. Participants then gathered at Wendel’s Elm Park for a picnic, concert and speeches. Library of Congress: September 5 in history.
The parade’s date is not the same as the modern U.S. Labor Day calendar rule. Oregon became the first state to give the holiday legal status in 1887; Congress made Labor Day a national holiday in 1894. The parade was held on September 5, while the present federal observance is tied to a weekday rule rather than a fixed September date. Library of Congress.
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Political and military history: Munich Olympics attack, 1972
On September 5, 1972, Palestinian militants attacked the Israeli Olympic delegation at the Munich Games. The Associated Press’s historical roundup reports that deaths and hostage-taking extended into the following 24 hours. This brief account establishes the date and broad event, but does not provide enough detail to set out a full chronology or reliably explain casualty figures here. Associated Press: This Day in History, September 5.
Literature: publication of On the Road, 1957
Jack Kerouac’s novel On the Road was published on September 5, 1957, according to the Associated Press. The date places the book among the day’s cultural milestones; it is not evidence that the novel was written or set on September 5. Associated Press.
Biography: Jesse James’s birth, 1847
The Library of Congress lists Jesse James as born on September 5, 1847. It also describes his later criminal career, making his birth an additional biographical event associated with the date. Library of Congress.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is celebrated on September 5?
There is no single universal observance established by these historical accounts. A holiday or commemoration on September 5 depends on country, community and tradition. The New York parade of 1882 is part of U.S. Labor Day history, but it should not be confused with the current date rule for the federal holiday.
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How to read a date-in-history list
- Check the year and place. September 5 can refer to unrelated events in different eras and countries.
- Distinguish an event’s date from an observance date. The 1882 parade took place on September 5; that does not make September 5 the fixed annual date of U.S. Labor Day.
- Treat a selective list as selective. These examples do not amount to a complete worldwide chronology or calendar of observances.
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