Labor Free Day

After spending 30 minutes writing this and then losing it thanks to faulty technology, I suppose I will write this again.

Who really knows why we celebrate Labor Day? If it is called LABOR day, why don't we work? Why do we just sit back, grill some meat and veggies and stuff our faces (while we college students are making bbq pork in a crock pot). WELL....I've taken it upon myself to enlighten myself and you....again....as to why we celebrate this day away from work and school.

Labor Day was a holiday commenced by the government to celebrate the workers of America and all they do to support our country.

THE END --------> NOT!!!!

The first celebration of Labor Day was on September 5th 1882. While it is unclear on whether it was Peter McGuire, co founder of the Central Labor Union, or Matthew McGuire, secretary of the Central Labor Union to first propose a day to "honor  those 'who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold,'" we ARE sure that it was the Central Labor Union who first anointed a committee to plan festivities.

And what were those festivities you ask? I'll tell you. The festivities outlined in the first proposal by this labor union for the celebration of what was then a "workingmen's holiday" were as follows: a parade around the city to exhibit the "strength and spirit of the trade and labor organizations," followed by a festival for the workers and their families to join in amusement and you guessed it...a PICNIC!

However it wasn't until 1884 that other labor unions started to take part in these festivities and by 1885-1886 the holiday was recognized by some municipalities through ordinances.But it was still the little holiday that could.....become nationally recognized. Soon states started recognizing the holiday! The first was Oregon, soon to be followed by Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York. By the end of the decade 23 other states had followed suit. It seems as if our humble minded union workers are beginning to make their mark on history! on June 28th of 1894 Congress passed a law making the first Monday of September in every year a federal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.

As the holiday gained momentum and the labor movement rapidly growing, the American Federation of Labor came to a resolution in 1904 to make every Sunday preceding the first Monday of September dedicated to the educational spirit of the day.....but since I didn't research Labor Day until today I guess we can overlook this little mistake of this post being a day late according to history......

So for a quick recap....good job America! We haven't completely corrupted the holiday that started in the mind of a labor union to celebrate the workers in America that contribute every day to our economic strength (or fragility) and to our social strata as a leader in our world. So thank you, workers! You may now get back to eating your ribs and corn.

*information provided by the U.S. Department of Labor....yes...they have a website.*
http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/laborday.htm