The unofficial end of summer is almost here. The kids will get their first holiday from school (they just started!) and we'll get a day off of work to enjoy the last days of summer fun.
Before you break out the grill and the picnic plates, I thought I'd share a few facts about the holiday that might make all of us a little more grateful for our labor-free holiday.
- Labor Day became an official federal holiday in 1894.
- At that time, it was common for people to work 12 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Children as young as 5 years old were allowed to work in mines and factories.
- The Central Labor Union decided American workers needed a day off between July 4th and Thanksgiving, so they chose the first Monday in September.
- The first Labor Day holidays were celebrated with street parades and festivals to entertain laborers and their families.
While there are still parades and festivals, Labor Day has evolved into a backyard holiday over the years. It's a time gather with neighbors and family and friends to eat, relax and have one more day under the sun before the cool winds of fall begin to blow.
Your "Work Hard, Play Hard" Gift Guru,
Linda
