Happy Labor Day!

 

By Mermaid Debbie

Do my fellow Americans really know why we celebrate this day? Some still view Labor Day as the fashion marker of when to stop wearing white. "Thou shalt not wear white after Labor Day." Or, "One can wear white after Labor Day, but it must be winter white."

In our neck-of-the-woods Labor Day is the last weekend before school starts, the last hoorah of summer. Our little lake will most likely be busier than normal, the sounds of jet skiis, boats, and people shouting, "hit it!" as the boat pops them out of the water for a spin on water skiis or wake boards. There will be sounds of joyful laughing and screaming as children and adults are whipped around the lake on tubes. The fresh air will be scented with steak, burgers, and hot dogs sizzling on the grill. As evening rolls around we may hear laughter and voices and the occasional "pop" of a campfire. The scent, bittersweet as we know this is the last weekend of summer.

 

In most towns there will be festivals and parades, backyard barbecues, and in general, people gathering to celebrate - what?

 

Did you know that Peter McGuire, an Irish-American cabinet maker and pioneer unionist, is the Father of Labor Day? In May of 1882 he proposed a day dedicated to all who labor.

"Let us have, a festive day during which a parade through the streets of the city would permit public tribute to American Industry."

 

The first big Labor Day in the United States was observed on September 5, 1882, by the Central Labor Union of New York. It became a federal holiday in 1894, with 30 states celebrating. However, Oregon was the first state to celebrate Labor Day as an official holiday in 1887.

 

Wikipedia says: Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September (September 5 in 2011) that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.

 

A fun, safe and wonderful Labor Day to all!!!!

 

 

Comments

[Mardell]

Thanks for the memories of Labor Day on the lake...the "hit it" line really got my memories flooding...Happy Labor Day!