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Monday, September 1, 2008
If I were living in the U.S.A. I would be on a holiday walk with Gary- our famous "Holiday Walk" that started at my place in Banker's Hill (Front and Grape St.) and continued down to Little Italy, the habour, Seaport Village, the Gaslamp and then back to Banker's Hill... It's been our tradition for years to take this walk, as long is was on a national holiday! Anyhow, today is Labor Day in the U.S. which to me means a day of NO WORK!!!
People enjoy a long weekend of beach, bbqs and hanging out with friends/family before the first day of school. Labour Day is really the "last day of summer vacation!" It's much like La Rentrée here in France, except that it's NOT la fête du travail today, our Labour Day here in France is in May, so it doesn't really have the same, "end of the summer" feel to it!
Well, it's really fine by me that I wasn't in the U.S. today, because I didn't work today, anyhow!! Hehe... All of my teacher friends are going back to work tomorrow.. First day of school for students in the U.S. AND France!!!! So, today here in France, without being any holiday at all, WAS INDEED, like the last day of summer!!
Here's a little history of Labor Day (U.S.A.) which I did NOT know about, EVER, until now! Thanks Google!!!
Labor Day: How it Came About; What it Means
Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.
The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take were outlined in the first proposal of the holiday — a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations" of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.
The character of the Labor Day celebration has undergone a change in recent years, especially in large industrial centers where mass displays and huge parades have proved a problem. This change, however, is more a shift in emphasis and medium of expression. Labor Day addresses by leading union officials, industrialists, educators, clerics and government officials are given wide coverage in newspapers, radio, and television.
The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.
Here's a little history of Labor Day (U.S.A.) which I did NOT know about, EVER, until now! Thanks Google!!!
Labor Day: How it Came About; What it Means
Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.
The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take were outlined in the first proposal of the holiday — a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations" of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.
The character of the Labor Day celebration has undergone a change in recent years, especially in large industrial centers where mass displays and huge parades have proved a problem. This change, however, is more a shift in emphasis and medium of expression. Labor Day addresses by leading union officials, industrialists, educators, clerics and government officials are given wide coverage in newspapers, radio, and television.
The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.
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