Happy Labor Day!
It’s the unofficial end of summer today, during the last long weekend of the warmest season. Summer’s unofficial bookends are Memorial Day and Labor Day. The season technically starts on June 21, and ends September 22, but it’s hard to feel like it’s still summer once school starts up again.
It makes sense that Labor Day signals rest and relaxation. The holiday was created by the Labor movement, and first celebrated in 1882. This day celebrates the labor of workers who helped build this country. In 1890, the standard manufacturing worker logged 100 hours every week! Comparatively, today’s standard 40 full-time hour week seems like a breeze!
Thanks to the efforts of labor organizers, we see the standardized workweek, the introduction of the weekend, and the first Monday in September off!
Labor Day usually signals the start of back-to-school as summer winds down. Common celebrations include barbeques and parades, although my favorite way to celebrate is with a glass of lemonade and that book I’ve been too busy to read.