Happy Labor Day!
Labor Day is the bookend on the opposite end of summer from its holiday beginning, Memorial Day.
July Fourth is summer’s early peak, with the promise of long light-filled days ahead. But Labor Day is summer’s last gasp, the moment I dreaded as a child because it marked the end of vacation and the start of the school year. Spiffy new clothes, a shiny bookbag, freshly sharpened pencils, and the promise of the beautiful autumn leaves’ arrival were nice. But they couldn’t make up for the fact that a new school year was beginning. Where oh where had the summer gone?
And it goes even more quickly these days. But let’s celebrate the fact that we don’t have to worry about the start of school anymore—except, perhaps, for the teachers among us.
Here’s wishing you all a Happy Labor Day! Barbecues, picnics, parades, beach, just hanging out in your yard, whatever you desire. And for the historically-minded among you, some information the origins of the holiday.
Thank you, Neo, I’ve enjoyed reading you for years.
September 1st and Labor Day have brought cooler temperatures in Germany, so I’m glad the 90/95 days are over. Air conditioning is rare here, so you mostly just sweat, and even 2 minutes walking outside makes your hair wet.
I hope you all had a good weekend.
…let’s celebrate the fact that we don’t have to worry about the start of school anymore—except, perhaps, for the teachers among us.
And students! Or at least me…
I’m two weeks into the fall semester, taking “Computer Logic Design.” These days you can design digital circuits by writing code, then an application blasts your design into silicon. Pretty cool. Beats breadboarding.
huxley – anything beats breadboarding!
“According to McGuire he suggested the first Monday in September as an ideal date for such a public celebration, owing to optimum weather and the date’s place on the calendar, sitting midway between the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving public holidays.[7]” – Wikipedia.
Wiki notes that the “other” labor day is May 1st, and I am glad our government opted not to fall into line with Europe on celebrating that date.
However, I had no idea the holiday began in the late 19th century!
“(May Day was chosen by the Second Internationale of socialist and communist parties to commemorate the Haymarket affair, which occurred in Chicago on May 4, 1886.[3][4])” – Wikipedia