Labor Day! Let's All Have Babies! (A History of Labor Day)

Today is every one's favorite Holiday! Not because you get some candy, cards, or a visit from Santa, but because you get a day off. One day off. What makes this day off so much better than that sick day you took in March?  Why no white after Labor Day? Here's the answer:



Labor Day is awesome because it is still really summer. Also if you are a Grad Student like me the first two weeks back are killer. This day off is the perfect time to catch up on papers, drink beer, or just lay around. If you live in an apartment you can get in you 5 ft pool. Awesome Plan! Oh, and football . . .

So what the heck is Labor Day and why all the grilling? Labor Day was originally started by the Central Labor Union in New York. Not the government. Basically this bad boy spread through shear popularity, and the fact that Unions could still demand days off.

Let's take a quiz!

1. Is this Labor?

Answers Bellow

The National Government killed a bunch of workers during an incident called the Pullman Strike. To set things right they gave all the other workers the 1st Monday in September off. Fair trade? Yep. I didn't know the guys. Labor Day celebrates Labor which means workers in turn-of-the-century mumbo-jumbo.

 2. Is this Labor?

There were originally two dates for Labor Day, but they went with the date we have now because the other reminded workers about when the government killed some guys. Could tick them off. So, to make things easy Grover Cleveland set it as the first Monday.

Labor Day is officially supposed to be celebrated with a parade and in a few places it still is. Rich people also made a habit of giving big speeches to appease workers they'd killed. Nice. We mostly party and watch fireworks now. Like a little drunk 4th of July. It more paradey and politically as its May 1st incarnation in other countries.

A.or B.  

3. Which one is Labor?

Why no white after Labor Day you ask? Well, it's pretty simple. White was seen as a Summer color by rich folks who killed their workers. Labor Day was the last fun day of the year for the people they killed so it became seen as the end of Summer. Put two and two together.

What's the moral of this story? If you kill some people, let their friends have the day off and drink. Seems too simple? That's why you're not a titan of industry. Interesting they didn't start a revolution with their free time. Oh, and that day off used to be a bigger deal when people worked 70 hours a week and their kids worked 50. Pansy.

You finished the Quiz!

1. No. These are turn-of-the-century gangsters. Hustlin' ain't Labor.

2. Yes.

3. A. He built the modern rail system single-handedly.

0/3 go home, 1/3 eh, 2/3 ain't bad, 3/3 You'd make some excellent Labor!