Happy Monday, SE Readers. Joan here. Today’s post will be short and sweet because I’ve been laboring (pun intended) over a manuscript.
And here in the United States, we are celebrating a holiday—Labor Day. Always celebrated on the first Monday of September, for many the holiday is the unofficial end of summer. Kids will go back to school (if they haven’t already) and vacation time is over.
Some will make one last trip to the lake, pack a picnic lunch, and participate in water sports. Others may get in one last road trip or go camping.
But the holiday originally came about in the late nineteenth century to honor the American labor movement and worker’s contributions to the strength and well-being of our country. The Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor organized the first parade in New York City.
Oregon became the first state to make it an official public holiday, and it became a federal holiday in 1894. (As a child, I always thought it was funny to call a day of rest Labor Day.)
The idea of honoring workers is not unique to the US—Canada’s Labour Day is also the first Monday of September. More than eighty countries celebrate an International Worker’s Day on May 1st.
Whatever you’re doing today, whether it’s relaxing by the pool, writing a manuscript, or the arduous task of editing, I hope you enjoy the holiday. Harmony will be here on Wednesday with some honest to goodness writing tips.
Story Empire 
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Happy belated, Joan. I hope it was a good one!
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Thanks, Mae. I took some time off from the day job, so I had a five-day weekend. Sure went by fast!
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A belated Happy Labor Day!
I was not familiar with the origin of this American holiday so thank you for the details you gave us here. Interesting. and funny indeed that a free day is called Labor day.
I hope you all had a lovely time full of fun and rest with family and friends!
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Thanks, Carmen. It was nice to have an extra day of rest.
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Interesting history behind Labor Day–I’ve always wondered about it. Another great post! Thanks, Joan!
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My curiosity got the best of me a few years back and I decided to look up the origin. Thanks, Julie!
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Reblogged this on Archer's Aim and commented:
Joan Hall wishing everyone a happy Labor Day on Story Empire today!
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Happy Holiday to all you folks that have the day off today. Here in the UK, we had our August Bank Holiday last Monday, so today is a work day, lols! Autumn already … we’ll be doing Christmas themes soon! (If I dare mention the C word just yet!?!) 🙂
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We rush everything here in the US. Stores are already putting Christmas decorations out. Ugh! Can we at least enjoy autumn first? Have a wonderful day, Harmony!
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Can I just say that my daughter listens to Christmas music all year long? For her, it’s not a holiday; it’s a state of mind.
I don’t mind the music (even all year long), but I do hate it when the stores jump the gun and start the decorating before Thanksgiving. One holiday at a time, please.
Happy Labor Day, everyone.
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I like your daughter’s idea. I don’t know why I tend to do Christmas stuff only during December (including watching Christmas movies). Yet I’ll watch films set during other times all year long. But yes, I agree about the stores. They’ve certainly commercialized the holiday and lost the true meaning.
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Enjoy.
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Thanks and same to you!
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