A Holiday Weekend

This weekend, "summer" is officially over. At least that is how I have always measured the seasons. In fact, I think school used to begin the week AFTER Labor Day weekend. At least, I have always thought that is the way it should be... School should begin the first Tuesday of September and end at Memorial Day, when summer begins. Or maybe school should be all year with more breaks throughout the year, since the kids don't have to help in the "fieldwork" and "farmwork" anymore. At any rate, I'm glad for the holiday weekend. I plan to do some things around the house and "catch up" on things neglected.

What are you doing to celebrate Labor Day?

"The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.

In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a "workingmen's holiday" on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country."

Read more at: http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/laborday.htm

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Today Labor Day is often regarded simply as a day of rest and, compared to the May 1 Labor Day celebrations in most countries, parades, speeches or political demonstrations are more low-key, although especially in election years, events held by labor organizations often feature political themes and appearances by candidates for office. Forms of celebration include picnics, barbecues, fireworks displays, water sports, and public art events. Families with school-age children take it as the last chance to summer. Some teenagers and young adults view it as the last weekend for parties before returning to school. However, of late, schools have begun well before Labor Day, as early as the 24th of July in many urban districts, including Nashville and Atlanta.

In addition, Labor Day marks the beginning of the season for the National Football League and NCAA College Football. The NCAA usually plays their first games the weekend of Labor day, with the NFL playing their first game the Thursday following Labor Day. ...... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_Day