LABOR DAY MYSTERY (ALMOST) SOLVED

Welcome to the end of summer!?

I'm tempted to roll out the cliched "this year was so fast…" but do you remember a long summer? Maybe back when you were 10, and the summer seemed to stretch out from June into forever.?

Until, that is, it came to a crashing end on the first weekend of September with Labor Day. So, yeah, it was fast.

But the big question is, where does Labor Day come from??

And like all good things, the truth may never be known.

More on that in a second.

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Labor Day became a thing on September 5, 1882.

That much is undisputed.

It started in New York with a parade that almost didn't happen.

The idea was to celebrate "workers" and their families. New York was the first state to introduce a Labor Day bill, but Oregon was the first to pass a Labor Day law.

(So, New York politics haven't changed…)

By 1894 23 states had adopted the holiday. Of course, there were all on different days. So to end the "which day is it?really" controversy, Congress made it a federal holiday in 1894, setting the date as the first Monday in September.

The first Labor Day Parade

The idea of Labor Day was a fun day for workers and families. So the first New York Labor Day started with a parade and included carnival-like activities for families.??

A lot of people showed up for the parade.

So did a lot of police, who were concerned about riots.

The only problem: the parade didn't show up.

There was no music and no parade marchers, which makes for a terrible parade (and probably isn't great in terms of calming rioters either).

Then, at the last minute, just as the brave Grand Marshal William McCabe was about to launch the parade all by himself, two hundred marchers from the Jewelers Union of Newark showed up with a band.?And the parade was on!

(So, a New Jersey crew turned the New York celebration of labor into a success, hmmm.)

But, really, whose idea was it anyway?

The big controversy surrounding Labor Day is who should get credit for the idea.

There are two candidates: Peter J McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, and Matthew Maguire, who was secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York.

Apparently, they both came up with the idea in 1882. I haven't read anything saying they were upset to share the credit, but apparently - like everything - there are passionate believers on both sides.

I suspect they met at a pub or a party. Someone suggested a holiday, and they both ran with it.

And I'm glad they did, aren't you?

So, we may never know who started it but have a wonderful Labor Day weekend anyway. May yours be full of picnics, parades, last gasp summer glee, and labor free...

Stay well,

Jody

From Around The Web

If you are interested in the first Labor Day Parade,?look no further.?Here?is a great run down by the Department of Labor of the day's events, and the heroic save by the Newark Jewelers.??

Trying to figure out what to do this Labor Day weekend??It is a great time for picnics and parades, road trips, and bike rides. In fact here are?23 ideas for you and your family?and?6 for the office?if you are looking for something to do with your team. Enjoy!

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