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Labor Day Traditions
Ever wonder how Labor Day and its holiday traditions came about and why do
some parts of the World have Labor Day on the first Monday of September
while others have an equivalent event on the 1st of March?
To begin with, Labor Day and related holiday traditions have origins in the
ghastly working conditions most of American labor faced during the
nineteenth century. Working hours were seldom less than 12 and workplace
safety was non-existent. Pay was a pittance and there was no security of
work or pay. In short, the situation was ripe for what we now know as trade
unionism.
The Genesis Of The Labor Movement
Peter McGuire was just another working hand, slogging it out day after day
in the hope that he would get a break one day. The poor working conditions
were beginning to make workers think of getting together and using their
collective bargaining power to improve their lot. In 1872, Peter McGuire
marched out in the streets with 100,000 workers who had gone on strike
demanding better working conditions and pay.
Slowly, Peter McGuire began to move to the forefront of the labor movement.
It was not an easy road. He was shunned by employers and the government as a
troublemaker. Finally, in 1881, he was able to organize the Chicago into a
national union. Peter McGuire was appointed the General Secretary of the
Brotherhood of Carpenters of America.
The Brotherhood Forms
Slowly, the idea of a brotherhood took hold and workers in each trade began
to organize themselves on the same lines and began to demand reasonable
working conditions and pay along with a secure future. Finally, on the 5th
of September the first Labor Day march was held and then it became a Labor
Day holiday tradition. After walking through the city, the workers picnicked
and celebrated with simple homemade food. The evening culminated with
fireworks.
Slowly the idea of parades as holiday traditions on what was now beginning
to be called Labor Day began to take hold. More and more states began to see
these events. Finally, in 1894, Congress made it a federal holiday. It is
believed that Congress quickly settled on the first Monday of September
because choosing 1st May appeared to be supporting the socialist and the
communist movement.
Coming as it is on the first Monday of September, Labor Day guarantees a
three-day weekend. To most Americans, this is the last long weekend of
summer and beaches and resorts are filled with people getting the last of
the sun before winter sets in. As per one of the Labor Day holiday
traditions, many people change their attire – beginning with changing the
summer straw hats to felt after Labor Day.
Taken in perspective, the labor movement was bound to come because you
cannot oppress people for long. The celebration of Labor Day and associated
holiday traditions signals that exploitation and suppression of mankind is
bound to result in a backlash. It is a warning to future exploiters.
also see:
Tales for Labor Day
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