Labor Day: From 1882 to Your Picnic Table
Labor Day is more than just the last long weekend of summer. The very first observance in 1882 was, at heart, a picnic. Some 10,000 workers marched through New York City to Union Square and then gathered with their families for speeches, games, and shared food, picnic style.
First Labor Day
In my Celebrating Labor Day History published on my blog, I write:
“On September 6, 1882, ten thousand workers marched in a parade from New York City Hall to Union Square to advocate for better working conditions. It was a sacrificial parade as they gave up their pay for that 8-hour workday.
That first parade culminated at Wendel’s Elm Park for a day-long celebration with picnics, festivities, concerts, and speeches for the whole family.”
I’ve always loved that detail—that this holiday began with a need for reform, but ended in community and family gatherings around the table (or in this case, perhaps a picnic blanket). While it’s impossible to know what was served that day, food history gives us a few clues.
Then: Food Firsts of the 1880s
1880: A patent was issued for the first “grain-crushing” flour mill.
1881: Wisconsin saw the invention of the first Ice Cream Sundae (chocolate syrup included).
1881: Dr. Satori Kato introduced the first instant coffee at the Pan American World Fair.
1882: Julius Maggi began producing the first bouillon cubes in Switzerland.
1882: The modern cream separator was invented.
It’s fun to imagine that first Labor Day picnic may have included instant coffee, and maybe even ice cream sundaes!
I also imagine there were sandwiches!
In The Neighborhood Cookbook, published in Portland, Oregon, in 1914, we find a recipe for “picnic sandwiches.”
Walnut Picnic Sandwiches Recipe
"Chop rather fine a pound of English walnuts, mix with sufficient mayonnaise to make a soft paste, butter thin slices of bread, lay upon one slice of bread a crisp lettuce leaf and spread the other slice with the walnut paste, press together and cut into any shape. Place in ice box for at least one hour, as they lose their shape if not kept very cold."For picnic lunch ideas, consider the advice of Ella Kellogg in her 1893 cookbook Science in the Kitchen for a “Lunch Basket.”
The lunch basket should contain ample provision for fresh-air-sharpened appetites, but let the food be as simple as possible, and of not too great variety. Good whole-wheat or Graham bread in some form, with well sterilized milk and cream, or a soup previously prepared from grains or legumes, which can be readily heated with the aid of a small alcohol or kerosene stove, and plenty of fruit of seasonable variety, will constitute a very good bill of fare.
Fruit sandwiches--made by spreading slices of light whole-wheat or Graham bread with a little whipped cream and then with fresh fruit jam lightly sweetened, with fig sauce or steamed figs chopped, steamed prunes or sliced bananas--are most relishable. These should be made on the ground, just before serving, from material previously prepared.
Food Trends in the 1890s
Meats: Pork and beef were the most popular meats of the era, and cured meats became common in the South and on the frontier.
Grains: Corn and corn products, like grits and hominy and cornbread, were in plentiful supply.
Dairy: Foods derived from dairy, like butter, cream, and cheese, were common.
Vegetables: While most vegetables were enjoyed in-season, common vegetables on the American table were beans, potatoes, peas, turnips, carrots, and cabbage
Ethnic cuisine: As immigration swelled during this era, ethnic foods like Italian pasta dishes, Jewish delicatessen fare, and Tex-Mex barbeque became part of the broader American diet.
Now: A Modern Labor Day Menu
While we may never know exactly what was served at that first 1882 picnic, pork and beef were among the most popular foods of the era — and ribs still feel right at home on a Labor Day table today.
(Swap in any favorites from your grill or garden—you’ll find plenty of inspiration in the full Labor Day Recipe Collection »)
Bonus: Sundae Bar for Labor Day
If you’d rather keep things cool and festive, an Ice Cream Sundae Bar is a wonderful way to celebrate. Lay out a few favorite flavors, toppings like chocolate syrup, berries, nuts, and whipped cream, and let everyone build their own creation. A modern twist on what might have been enjoyed back in 1881.
A Seasonal Bridge
And as summer slowly shifts into fall, I’ve just published a new recipe for Apple Oatmeal Bread. It’s hearty, comforting, and just right for September mornings or lunchbox treats.
Quote
“Without labor nothing prospers.” — Sophocles
Whether you’re firing up the grill, slicing summer’s last zucchini, or simply enjoying a long weekend with family, I hope this Labor Day reminds you of its roots: rest, community, and a good meal shared together.
Here’s to carrying that spirit into the new season ahead.
Stephanie