Busy busy and some Labor day history

Another crazy week in the books.  I guess we are officially off and running.  Tonight is a very large Court of Honor for our Boy Scout Troop.  The boys have earned over 80 awards.  Being the Troop Committee Chair, I have been busy getting all of these awards and the accompanying paperwork done and ready.

I have a brother-in-law coming for the holiday week-end.  So the house has to be clean.  Mr. 14 has a football game this afternoon.  Miss 16 has a volleyball game.  Anyway lots to do.

So since I have so much free time, I thought I would share with all of you why this is a holiday.  (Because I’m a big nerd who loves long factual explanations about why we have holidays.)

The origins of Labor Day can be traced back to Canada ( so it was originally a Canadian holiday,eh.)  In December 1872, a parade was staged in support of the Toronto Typographical Union’s strike for a 58-hour workweek (58 hours–don’t most of us only work 40?).  Ten years later, American Peter J. McGuire, co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, spoke at a labour festival in Toronto, Canada, on July 22, 1882. Returning to the United States, McGuire and the Knights of Labor organised a similar parade based on the Canadian event on September 5, 1882, in New York City, USA.

It became a federal holiday in 1894,  following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals. These deaths occured during the Pullman Strike-  a railroad strike described as follows: “a struggle between the greatest and most important labor organization and the entire railroad capital.” The strike involved some 250,000 workers in 27 states at its peak.  President Grover Cleveland reconciled with the labor movement.

Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike.  The September date originally chosen by the CLU of New York and observed by many of the nation’s trade unions for the past several years was selected rather than the more widespread International Workers’ Day because Cleveland was concerned that observance of the latter would stir up negative emotions linked to the Haymarket Affair, which it had been observed to commemorate.   The Haymarket affair (also known as the Haymarket massacre or Haymarket riot) was a demonstration and unrest that took place on Tuesday May 4, 1886, at the Haymarket Square in Chicago. It began as a rally in support of striking workers.  It involved the protestors throwing a bomb at the police.  There is a Haymarket Martyrs’ Monument in nearby Forest Park to remember the lives lost.  

So, basically, Labor Day is a holiday about striking, protesting, shooting at people, and then getting pacified by the government.  hmmmm

Isn’t this an interesting history for this little day off that we all use for camping?

All U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the territories have made it a statutory holiday.  It used to be celebrated with parades and speeches from civic leaders.

Today Labor Day signifies the end of summerand the beginning of college and professional football.  It is a family holiday with barbeques and picnics.  Many businesses and most schools are closed.  Retailers have big sales.  Few, if any, think about what the holiday is about.

This Labor Day take a minute while you’re eating your bacon burger and  pay tribute to the creator of so much of the nation’s strength, freedom, and leadership — the American Worker.