What is Labor Day?
In the U.S., Labor Day is a legal holiday, the first Monday in September in honor of labor. That’s from Dictionary.com. But it doesn’t really tell us much does it? The United States Department of Labor has a better definition: “Labor Day … 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 ofour country.”
What does Labor Day mean to you?
If you’re a writer and you work a full-time job doing something else also, Labor Day means a day off work to spend writing to your hearts content, an extra weekend day to delve into that novel or short story gathering dust on your hard drive. If you’re a writer who writes full time, Labor Day could just as well mean nothing more than another day to write. Either way, my wish for you is to have a full day to write.
Labor of Love
Perhaps Labor Day for you means “labor of love”, as now you have one day to spend free to do what you’re passionate about, write. While everyone else is on the lake boating and tanning, cooking on the barby with a beer in hand, relaxing with friends and family, the hard core writer is probably sequestered in her home office, typing away at the keyboard, concentrating on just the right word or phrase, rereading out loud or to her cats to get the right rhythm or tone.
As my friend and New York Times best-selling author Bob Mayer said recently, “Writing means sitting alone for hours on end making up stories and that’s just not normal.” Well said, Bob. Writers just aren’t normal. But, we are passionate about our profession and it’s doubtful we’d take a day off just because the rest of the nation has declared a holiday. Will you?
Labor Day TraditionsNumerous traditions have sprung up around Labor Day and its ties to the symbolic end of the summer season. I remember when public school didn’t begin until after labor day. In fashion etiquette, Labor Day marks the transition from summer to fall fashion. I remember my grandmother not allowing us to wear white shoes after Labor Day. In Texas, Labor Day means stores set out their new winter clothing lines—sweaters, coats, furry boots, toboggans—while we are still sweating in tank tops, shorts and flip flops.
History of Labor Day
Most people probably couldn’t tell you the history of Labor Day or how it got started. It’s not like Memorial Day where we honor our military and veterans, or Thanksgiving, where all U.S. children are indoctrinated into the tale of feasting pilgrims and Native Americans.
The U.S. and Canada stand alone in this particular association with Labor Day signifying the change in seasons touching all parts of our lives..
The history of Labor Day begins in Melbourne, Australia, as part of the Eight Hour Day Movement in the 1850s. In Europe, Labour Day is now celebrated on May Day, May 1.In the U.S., our history of Labor Day can be linked to the Canadian celebration. Canadian Labor Day began with the printers’ revolt in Toronto in 1872 and the Canadian “Nine Hour Movement”. Printers organized to create a 54 hour workweek.
There is some ambiguity as to exactly who first proposed the holiday for workers. Some sources say that in 1882, Peter McGuire, an American labor leader, witnessed the annual Toronto festivities and returned to the U.S. with a plan to institute a Labor Day celebration. With the Knights of Labor supporting him, McGuire mounted the first American Labor Day parade in September that year. Others say that Matthew Maguire, a machinest, founded the holiday. Mathew Maguire proposed the holiday while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. Either way, the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and picnic.
The First Labor Day
The first Labor Day in the U.S. was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City. The first Monday was selected in 1884. Canada and the U.S. adopted Labor Day on the same date, easing pressure on businesses that operated on both sides of the border and demonstrating solidarity between the two countries.
Labor Day has lost many of it’s original traditional associations. Today, the holiday is, for most, simply a day off work to enjoy with family and friends.
Labor Day & WritersExcept for writers, who rarely get a day off work unless they are very organized, Labor Day means holiday. Don’t let this be you. Writers need days off just like any other employee. Writers need time with family and friends, and your family and friends need time with you. Writers need downtime. Taking a day away from the computer, paper, typewriter, stone and chisel, whatever you use, is a great way to let the writing sink into your subconscious and let your subconctious work while your conscious mind relaxes, giving the often elusive “Muse” a day to find you.
There aren’t a lot of events focusing on the writer. Artists and muscisians take up our air on this holiday. Consider these local events to add to your writer’s gray cells:
Storybook Playhouse Exhibit - The "Storybook Playhouse" exhibit at the Dallas Arboretum features 14 interactive playhouses inspired by children's stories.
Anime Fest – ends Monday, Sept. 7th. A convention and association for fans of anime, music, manga, and Japanese pop culture.
Or just read a good book.
So, writers, unless you have a deadline, enjoy Labor Day. Think of Labor Day as Writers Day. A day to relax, reflect, recharge. You’ll find yourself fresh and fit when you sit down at your keyboard Tuesday morning, ready to take on the writing world!
Comments
Good article, Alley. I'll be spending the day writing.
Hey there, nice article. Specially for a 'foreigner' to read the history of Labor Day. We, in the Netherlands celebrate it indeed the first of May, but it is not a holiday for us. In other European countries, like Belgium and France it is.
Very informative! As a retired person (woman), I spent my day "laboring" i.e., cooking, cleaning, trying to find a minute to relax and finally, doing my watercolor assignment. Still in all a good day as always. Thanks, Pat H. for the article!
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