Labor Day -- Another Holiday No One Really Gets

I recently asked the question "What exactly is Labour Day?"
Or Labor Day for the American readers.
There are separate entries on Wikipedia, so there must be a difference.

Growing up, Labour Day meant the following:

• Shawville Agricultural Fair
• Weather Change
• School's starting soon, but we had that day off
• and for some reason you could no longer wear white.

It was a holiday. Being a kid, that's all that mattered.
I was an artsy crafty type of kid, so I spent the summer working on crafts for the craft exhibit competitions. It also meant a free pass to the fair. I managed to bring home several ribbons.

Now, it seems to be more of a "End of Summer Party" type of thing.
You know, the last "hurah". That last trip to the beach, that last reason to gather and have a cook out.

Here is some info from (probably) the most quoted source on the internet, Wikipedia:

Regarding the American Labor Day

The first Labor Day in the United States was celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City. It became a federal holiday in 1894, when, following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the Pullman Strike, PresidentGrover Cleveland put reconciliation with the labor movement as a top political priority. 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.

Now the Canadian Labour Day

Labour Day has been celebrated on the first Monday in September in Canada since the 1880s. The origins of Labour Day in Canada can be traced back to April 14, 1872 when a parade was staged in support of the Toronto Typographical Union's strike for a 58-hour work-week. The Toronto Trades Assembly (TTA) called its 27 unions to demonstrate in support of the Typographical Union who had been on strike since March 25.George Brown, Canadian politician and editor of the Toronto Globe hit back at his striking employees, pressing police to charge the Typographical Union with "conspiracy." Although the laws criminalising union activity were outdated and had already been abolished in Great Britain, they were still on books in Canada and police arrested 24 leaders of the Typographical Union. Labour leaders decided to call another similar demonstration on September 3 to protest the arrests. Seven unions marched in Ottawa, prompting a promise by Canadian Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald to repeal the "barbarous" anti-union laws. Parliament passed the Trade Union Act on June 14 the following year, and soon all unions were demanding a 54-hour work-week.

As for the wearing of white after the holiday?

An old custom prohibits the wearing of white after Labour Day. The explanations for this tradition range from the fact that white clothes are worse protection against cold weather in the winter to the fact that the rule was intended as a status symbol for new members of the middle class in the late 19th century and early 20th century 

Oh, and it's when the US Navy switched from their white uniforms to their blue ones.

And to quote the US Department of Labor

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

So thanks for everyone who works to make this country ... work.

Since my hard working husband is off for the day, time to go char some mammal flesh and consume some adult beverages.

Happy Labor/Labour Day Everyone!