As the welcome three-day weekend approached this September, I started to think about traditions centered around the Labor Day holiday. I realized that I know very little about this particular holiday, and so decided to post a brief bit of history from my research.
According to the US Department of Labor website (www.dol.gov), Labor Day is "a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers." (Hmmm. That's me!) "It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country."
The first Labor Day was celebrated in New York City in 1882, but it didn't become a national holiday until Congress passed an act declaring it a legal holiday in 1894. The original proposal outlines how we should celebrate Labor Day: a street parade dedicated to the trade and labor organizations, followed by a festival "for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families."
Today, Labor Day has become less about trade and labor organizations and more about that last "fling" of the summer. For many, the Labor Day weekend is the last camping trip of the year. Others schedule the first hunt of the season. Sports fans anticipate the beginning of the college football season. And, for the rest of us, there are still parades, flags, speeches, barbecues, picnics, and that one last trip to the beach or water park.
In short, the form the Labor Day celebration takes is as unique as the community celebrating it.
If you've got a fun Labor Day tradition, please share! As for me and my family, I think we're going to fire up the grill, slather on the sunscreen, and spend a little free time in the great out-of-doors!
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