What most folks don’t know, is that the holiday originated in Canada out of labor disputes, the Nine Hour Movement, in Hamilton, then in Toronto, Canada in the 1870s. This resulted in a Trade Union Act, which legalized and protected union activity in 1872 in Canada. The first parades held in support of the Nine-Hour Movement and the printers' strike led to an annual celebration in Canada. Just like us Americans to think all the great ideas are our own. Anyway it was not until 1882 that Peter McGuire witnessed one of these labor festivals in Toronto. Inspired from events in Toronto the American labor leader returned to New York and organized the first American "labor day" on September 5 of the same year. In 1894, following the aftermath where of a number of workers died at the hands of the US military and the US Marshals after the Pullman strike President Cleveland put reconciliation with Labor as one of his top political priorities. Politicians, fearing further conflict, worked quickly on legislation making Labor Day a national holiday, that legislation was signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike. Now with the law passed, to quell the strike, they had to quickly determine what form of celebration would there be for Labor Day. It was roughly defined in the first proposal, it was to have a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations," followed by a festival for the workers and their families. Something I did not know was that at the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday proceeding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement. I guess by the time I was born or learning about it the day meant something else altogether.
Labor Day is a national legal holiday that is over 100 years old. Over the years, it has evolved from a purely labor union celebration into a general "last fling of summer" and is mostly symbolic with regard to the end of summer. Labor day was a day that sucked when I was a kid, we hated the day, no more trips to Kiser lake, no more Middleton’s ice cream and school would be back in session soon – what could possibly be worse for a kid? Now as an adult, I consider it just another day off and we always cook out, it is a day of rest and watching parades. Funny thing though, the older I get the less interested in parades, live or on television, I have become and I am not sure what that says about me. Labor day is also when football officially starts as well, both college (first games the week prior to labor day) and professional teams (first game the Thursday after labor day). I am not much of a college fan, I like to watch our Jaguars play, even though they have sucked for a number of years, I am sure this will be the season they turn it around, we lots of new talent.
Today I went to the beach to watch the sunrise, I do not feel it is the last fling of summer, I live in Florida – what can I say it is always summer. I was shocked this morning though, it was cold and I felt that I almost needed something more than shorts and a tank top. Come to find out it was only 70 degrees – I know you tough people up north will call me a pansy and that is fine because soon you will be shoveling snow and I will not. It was overcast and the waves were whipping, I was surprised how many folks were out there so early today, even more than normal. I did get to see a couple of Bogo’s on the Blue Bell this morning, so that alone made up having the endure the frigid temperatures. One of them was a woman who for nearly 2 hours was at the waters edge running up and down with a flashlight, it was odd behavior that stood out from the rest of the folks on the beach. I am not sure what she was looking for but she was still looking for it when I left. The other was a couple that were still drinking beer, out of the bottles and they stumbled, literally, onto the beach at about 6:30 and after he fell down. She was unable to get him uprighted and quickly lost interest and decided to go swimming. He tried 7 times to get up in what appeared to be an attempt to join her in the water, he was unsuccessful on each attempt landing with a face plant into the sand on his last attempt.
Watching that reminded me of a time in the mid eighties when I found myself in a similar situation on a beach in Barbados. I remember starting the day out innocently enough with an early start but by 10am the little rum drinks were tasting mighty good. We rented these little Cushman cars to tool around in, the ones with nothing more than a lawn mower engine in them and it had to be comical to see 15-20 of these things in a pack running around the island. The last place I remember being was a beach bar at some hotel that was nicer than I could afford but the bar was cool – it was right out on the beach. I remember we spent most of the day, and most of the night close to that bar. I was running with a good friend of mine from Philly, Eddie Kelso and we were having a great time and learned that CockSpur Rum was VERY good and since it was made on the island it was VERY inexpensive. Anyway the next thing I remember was waking up face down on the beach with a mouth full of sand. I looked around for Eddie and he was nowhere to be found, I saw what I thought were his footprints and started to follow them up the beach. Up and down the beach I went thinking I was a man tracker following footprints in the sand – as much sense as it made at the time I realize now I was a drunken idiot for even trying. I enjoyed thinking about Eddie and the times we had together while watching my newest BOGO on the Blue Bell find and then I realized I was a Bogo at one time. I am still smiling thinking about it.
So on me Labor days originally meaning is lost, I can’t even comprehend the struggles of those who came before us, I live in a world they helped to create and if they had the chance to see the fruits of their labors now they would probably freak out. We have it pretty good in the United States when it comes to the amount of work we do. I know lately with the SUCKING economy and lack of any real stimulus to help me makes me feel like I need to organize. For what you might ask – some damn assistance with $400 dollar electric bill, I say if we all stop using electricity we will have them right where we want them and they will be forced to lower our utility bills – won’t they? Oh well those are issues that are bigger than my feeble brain can comprehend so I for one am just going to enjoy seeing friends and enjoy the steaks I will cook on the grill.
ENJOY the day my friends, whatever it might mean to you!
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