Labor Day

**Lady_V** · 09-03-2006, 10:33 AM

This is the unofficial last weekend of summer here in New England.

Most people are planning some sort of cookout for Monday, us included. I bought some southern ribs and chicken to toss on the grill. (Now if the rain will stop by tomorrow...)

What plans, if any do you all have???

Just a lil FYI -
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" festival.

It grew out of a celebration and parade in honor of the working class by the Knights of Labor in 1882 in New York. In 1884, the Knights held a large parade in New York City celebrating the working class. The parade was held on the first Monday in September. The Knights passed a resolution to hold all future parades on the same day, designated by them as Labor Day.

The Socialist Party held a similar celebration of the working class on May 1. This date eventually became known as May Day, and was celebrated by Socialists and Communists in commemoration of the working man. In the U.S., the first Monday in September was selected to reject any identification with Communism.

In the late 1880's, labor organizations began to lobby various state legislatures for recognition of Labor Day as an official state holiday. The first states to declare it a state holiday in, 1887, were Oregon, Colorado, New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. Then in 1894, Congress passed a law recognizing Labor Day as an official national holiday.

Today, Labor Day is observed not only in the U.S. but also in Canada, and in other industrialized nations. While it is a general holiday in the United States, its roots in the working class remain clearer in European countries.

**kabin63** · 09-03-2006, 11:29 AM

I'm not planning a special cook out or anything this weekend. Today is the MDA ride. Hundreds of Bikers come from all over to participate and raise money for Jerry's kids. We ususally hike down to the highway and watch them go by, we can't go anywhere anyway.
Also the Blueberry festival is going on in the next county. Not sure if we will attend or not, but it's always crowded. The neatest thing is the hot air balloons race....So many hot air balloons, very pretty.

**miss_thrifty** · 09-03-2006, 04:23 PM

Nothing actaually we celebrated last nite, nothing special goes on in Town, everything is closed. me and hubby are going to get caught on some work. lol

**Michelle** · 09-03-2006, 06:01 PM

Nothing special planned here. We probably would have had one more informal cookout, but I don't think the weather will cooperate.

If it *is* nice out, I hope we can just stay home and relax vs. going up to my fil's house.

**frugalnana** · 09-03-2006, 06:56 PM

Labor day weekend is a start of many birthdays for us. We celebrated MIL's birthday last night. My oldest son and my best friends was today. Then Monday we will have a big cookout for everyone and then tuesday is my granddaughters b-day and my dads is Wednesday.

**MarshHen** · 09-03-2006, 07:02 PM

Hubby is going out of town to look at a tractor for sale with a friend tomarrow, so it will be just daughter and myself here most of the day. Will probably catch up on email and maybe do a little yard work. Nothing special though.

**Goodwin17** · 09-04-2006, 02:45 PM

Nothing major going on here today. Mostly going to sit at home, and catch up on email/FV forums. I'm also doing some cleaning.

**YankeeMom** · 09-04-2006, 02:50 PM

Ironically, I'll be working. Working at least 9 hours with no break.

**LastDragonfly** · 09-04-2006, 03:00 PM

It is

here and has for the last 3 days! Ok, I'm ready for it to stop and let the sun shine again. It's only 60 outside and that is COLD for us down here in the desert.

We will grill and enjoy our extra day off.

**Michelle** · 09-04-2006, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by YankeeMom

Ironically, I'll be working. Working at least 9 hours with no break.

I hope the tips are good

**mustang80** · 09-04-2006, 04:45 PM

Today we are closing the pool. I just put the chemicals in, now it has to run for 2 hours. Hopefully we will get it covered tonight, if not, tomorrow night.