Labor Day 2019 marks the end of summer. So, it’s time to celebrate Labor Day and Up Coming Weddings.
In fact, it is the last 3 day holiday between July 4 and Thanksgiving. So, we have briefly suspended our regular wedding topics. We hereby dedicate this blog to working Americans and their special holiday, Labor Day. And we bet there’s more to it than you think.
Work, Life, Family: The Balance
Summer is Fading into Fall Wedding Time as we Celebrate Labor Day.
The Labor Day holiday has become an important time. It gives us an opportunity to renew, refresh and re-invigorate family members and friends. At Sterling International Photography, we embrace the philosophy of a Balance of Work, Family, and Play. Having time for work, for play, and for the family is the secret of life.
Labor Day focuses on “Play.” It’s strange that it is called “Labor Day?” After all, the entire objective of the day is to skip work? In 21st century America, we are drawn to outdoor activities for this holiday. Thus there are numerous choices at the heart of this holiday.
There’s a menu of family fun for every age. And, because of this holiday, there is time for us to connect with family and friends.
There will be picnicking on the beach, hiking, and swimming. We will share camping, boating, sight-seeing. We may even go on shopping excursions. And Labor Day gives us time for the people we love. Sterling International Photography believes these are healthy moments of refreshment for mind, spirit, and body.
Labor Day 2019: A Forgotten Story of Revolution
But there is more to Labor Day 2019 than picnics, parks, parades, and barbecues. In fact, it is such a mysterious and perhaps misunderstood holiday. So, we depart from our usual topics to bring you some special Labor Day facts, stories, and statistics.
So, welcome to a special Labor Day 2019 blog.
First of all, we take this opportunity to send out Happy Labor Day congratulations to the 162 million American workers who enrich our country today.
A Little Touch of Labor Day History
Most Americans only vaguely know the details of Labor Day. And, admittedly, most of us only think of food, family, and fun. It is true that picnics, parties, and parades will consume our nation’s energy this coming long weekend.
However, after a little historical research, Sterling International Photography sends out a sincere wish. This wish is that everyone could take a moment to honor the true meaning of this historical holiday.
Sometimes we get very involved with just having the freedom of a three-day holiday. Then we forget the reason the Labor Day holiday was nationalized. And if we, as adults, forget, how can we expect future generations of children to remember?
History, Labor Movements, Protests: The First Labor Day Celebration in New York City
This holiday is known in Canada as part of May time celebrations. However, the first American Labor Day was in New York City. And it’s quite a story.
Basically, the entire idea was instigated by 10,000 marching men in 1882. And they had plenty of labor problems to protest in the days of
Fall blesses us with rich reds and golds, a cozy time by the fireplace.
the Industrial Revolution.
However, on the day of September 5, 1882, the laborers created a peaceful demonstration. Why did they demonstrate? People, of that era, men, women, and children, worked 10 plus hour days. This was part of the daily routine. Some worked even longer hours.
Our Labor Day Holiday Was Born from Labor Reform
Imagine the working conditions of that time period. It was an unsafe working environment in every factory. (No wonder fire was feared. No laws existed for sprinkler systems in those days.)
There are labor stories from this time in history that could melt the hardest hearts. For example, let’s look at the story of March 25, 1911, Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory fire in New York City.
It is remembered as one of the most infamous incidents in American industrial history. 148 people died. The “deaths were largely preventable”…”Most of the victims died as a result of neglected safety features and locked doors within the factory building.”
Life Before Labor Reform
The lives of workers during that time period before the birth of unions were nothing like ours.
- Child labor (Child-care was just no problem. This is because a 5-year-old could work right beside her mother in a sweatshop. Of course, both mother and child would have quotas.)
- Low pay was the standard. Labor was the company’s cheapest resource.
- 10-16 hour workdays exhausted families and destroyed time for them to be together.
But on that day, in 1882, the first Labor Day Celebration occurred. The protesting and speeches erupted in massive picnicking instead of violence.
Slow Growth of Labor Reform and a Change We Still Enjoy
That’s right, massive picnicking followed the massive picketing on that first NYC Labor Day. (Now you know where the cook-out custom originated!) All of this happened on September 5, 1882.
However, incredible as it seems, our society had to wait until 1916 for the 8-hour work-day to become legal.
What Does the Adamson Act Mean to You? (The Pullman Story)
As Summer fades, brides know it’s still okay to wear white after Labor Day.
This occurred with the authority of the Adamson Act in 1916. The Adamson Act was the first legislation that mandated a 40-hour work-week. The act also established additional pay for overtime.
And there is more behind the story of the 8 hour day in the eyes of history. The story begins a year after the NYC peaceful demonstration and celebration of the first Labor Day. It began when an 1883 economic depression caused a downturn in the purchase of rail cars for passenger trains.
“Railroad company owner George Pullman cut workers’ wages. Then, he refused to lower their rents. A nation-wide labor strike ensued…” To squelch the rebellious behavior, President Grover Cleveland called in military muscle.”
Then, violence ensued. Real Violence. The unfortunate statistics from that clash included “30 deaths, 57 injured, and $80 million dollars in property damage.”
President Cleveland Makes Amends
So we can understand the reason that President Cleveland was eager to make Labor Day a federal holiday one year later. Oh, Yes, he rushed Congress into creating the official holiday. However, it was not until 23 years later, with the Adamson Act, that we actually established the 8-hour workday and 40-hour work-week.
Those are the statistics and the stories behind the Labor Day Holiday we are about to enjoy.
We don’t tell you these Labor era stories to sadden you as you approach happy Holiday plans. We believe you can appreciate a holiday more if we know the history behind it.
And Now—Back to the 21st Century: Please Do Not Become a Labor Day Statistic
Labor Day 2019 is like all summer holidays in one way. Traffic is fierce as we exit our cities to outlying parks, lakes, and beaches. Thus we
As Labor Day ends Summer, Soon a Touch of Fur Will Be a Bride’s Accessory.
also take a moment to caution you about traffic safety.
“Each year, there is a spike in traffic accidents and fatalities.” This is because more people take to the roads over the long holiday weekend. And this year, it is anticipated that even more Americans will be on the roads than usual.
In fact, authorities are expecting over 400 deaths over the holidays. 86 % of Americans will be on the road. And 48,000 will suffer injuries.
CBS News recently reported on some holiday driving tips, summarized below.
They prefaced the tips with this comment. “These dangers probably will not deter you from driving to your holiday celebrations.” However, we at Sterling International Photography, feel that if these tips help one person think twice about driving with caution, we will have invested well in our blogging time.
Rules for the Road:
Therefore, Sterling International Photography brings these tips. And we hope they help you avoid driving hazards:
Have Fun At Your Special Events, But Please Don’t Drink and Drive.
- The consumption of alcohol and driving on the nation’s busy holiday roads during the Labor Day holiday.
- Drink responsibly are magic words.
- Sure, have a good time with family and friends at your party. However, we urge you to either hire transportation or designate a sober driver. We are genuinely concerned about your life and the lives of your friends.
- Drive Friendly and Patiently. You might be a few minutes late. But you-will-get-there.
- And they CBS News added their number one safety driving tip. This tip is for all holidays, not just Labor Day. “Texting or other distracted driving is as dangerous than driving drunk. If you need to tell your relatives you are running late, pull over.”
Terrific Take-Aways from the Special Edition Blog
Sterling International Photography wishes you and your family a safe, happy and healthy Labor Day Holiday.
We feel those laborers of yesteryear would respect being remembered in this way.
We honor those long-forgotten heroes of the Labor movement. We honor them by enjoying a happy holiday that brings rest and rejuvenation to families and friends. And year-round, we continue the tradition of the American Work Ethic.
