Some may refer to it as the final blast of summer. Others see it as a way to ease into the start of yet another school year, and others just see it as a day off of work and a chance to spend time with family and friends. Very few collegiates know why we have no school on Labor Day, or why there are so many shopping sales. After all, we know the history behind Thanksgiving and Christmas, so why not Labor Day too?
Around 1882, the Central Labor Union decided that they wanted a holiday for their workers. This idea was first proposed after the annual labour festival in Canada which happens at the beginning of September. It became a federal holiday in 1894 after U.S. Congress unanimously voted to approve making it a legal holiday. This decision came about after the deaths of some workers during the Pullman Strike where they were protesting wage cuts.
The overall goal of Labor Day is to pay tribute to workers’ contributions to the strength, prosperity and well-being of their country. It’s employers’ ways of saying thank you for everything you have done. This is synonymous with International Workers’ Day that is held on May 1st in other countries.
Labor Day has also been seen as a fashion marker. Years ago, it was custom to wear a straw hat from Memorial Day throughout the summer until Labor Day and then wear a felt hat through the winter until Memorial Day again. Women also used to shy away from wearing white after Labor Day because it was said to be a summer color, but that has changed as women wear white year round.
Today there are many ways to celebrate Labor Day; from parades to picnics everyone makes sure to honor workers and their families. A lot of families see it as the last chance for a vacation before school starts. It is also the start of football season which truly means that summer and warm weather is over (most years, this one not so much).
So now as you are catching up on homework that you did not do over your four day weekend, or you are wishing school’s had a four day week all the time, keep in mind the reason we didn’t have class Monday. Remember to be grateful for those who work and for the opportunity to work. After all, once we graduate, that will be one of the very few days off we will be given in the real world.
photo courtesy of www.sojwj.org
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