Beginning in the late 1800s, the celebration of Labor Day on the first Monday in September began as a day of rest for the working man. Today, most people think of the three-day weekend as the end of summer and the beginning of fall. Many celebrate with a cookout, a ball game, or a final day at the beach before turning their sights toward school, colder weather and the last quarter of the year. While the original intent of the holiday as a day of rest has not changed, people seem to regard the weekend as a transition from one season to the next. Federal institutions, banks, schools and non-retail establishments generally take the day off, but retail stores often use it as an opportunity to have end-of-summer sales and specials.