FReeper Canteen ~ Happy Labor Day ~ September 6 2004

Labor Day is a national legal holiday that is over 100 years old. Over the years, it has evolved from a purely labor union celebration into a general "last fling of summer" festival.

It grew out of a celebration and parade in honor of the working class by the Knights of Labor in 1882 in New York. In 1884, the Knights held a large parade in New York City celebrating the working class. The parade was held on the first Monday in September. The Knights passed a resolution to hold all future parades on the same day, designated by them as Labor Day.

The Socialist Party held a similar celebration of the working class on May 1. This date eventually became known as May Day, and was celebrated by Socialists and Communists in commemoration of the working man. In the U.S., the first Monday in September was selected to reject any identification with Communism.

In the late 1880's, labor organizations began to lobby various state legislatures for recognition of Labor Day as an official state holiday. The first states to declare it a state holiday in, 1887, were Oregon, Colorado, New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. Then in 1894, Congress passed a law recognizing Labor Day as an official national holiday.

Today, Labor Day is observed not only in the U.S. but also in Canada, and in other industrialized nations. While it is a general holiday in the United States, its roots in the working class remain clearer in European countries.

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For a lot of people, Labor Day means two things: a day off and the end of summer. But why is it called Labor Day? Labor Day is a day set aside to pay tribute to working men and women.

Membership in labor unions in the United States reached an all-time high in the 1950s when about 40 percent of the work force belonged to unions. Today, union membership is about 14 percent of the working population. Labor Day now carries less significance as a celebration of working people and more as the end of summer. Schools, government offices and businesses are closed on Labor Day so people can get in one last trip to the beach or have one last cookout before the weather starts to turn colder.

So what about you?

How are you celebrating Labor Day?

the pic on the right is from reuters today

241 posted on 09/06/2004 6:47:50 PM PDT by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)

FEATHERS!!!

How shall we celevrate?

242 posted on 09/06/2004 6:50:35 PM PDT by Old Sarge (ZOT 'em all, let MOD sort 'em out!)

Now I understand! LOL

243 posted on 09/06/2004 6:52:42 PM PDT by Fawnn (Canteen wOOhOO Consultant and CookingWithPam.com person - Faith makes things possible, not easy.)

ms b.....DON'T LISTEN!! LOL!!

Beach Boys ~ Sloop John B

244 posted on 09/06/2004 6:52:42 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Troops Who Protect Her)

L0l! It was a goof. I was trying to link to my post... and actually linked to my post! L0L

245 posted on 09/06/2004 6:54:04 PM PDT by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)

"Aw, Rashid, this is on every channel! Where is that Anniston whore?"

"Maybe if I turn this gain up a little more, I can pick up that decadent Western porn channel..."

"Wait a moment! Where is my copy of the British Sun?!? This is not Page Three!"

""Tell me, Izrahim, did we manage to burn all of those decadent Western porn magazines?"
"Yes, Mansoor - all except for yours..."

"I am telling you all, the world will notice if we start using these, these Hooter's Girls as recuitment ads!"

"I told you once before, Pal, the Baghdad Hard Rock is NOT open yet!"

246 posted on 09/06/2004 7:00:41 PM PDT by Old Sarge (ZOT 'em all, let MOD sort 'em out!)

Sir Knight, as we always do
-with pen in hand
this will be grand
to dance across
the kingdom land

247 posted on 09/06/2004 7:01:07 PM PDT by Soaring Feather

To: MS.BEHAVIN; mylife; All

248 posted on 09/06/2004 7:02:01 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Troops Who Protect Her)

Then shall we make ready romance, romance
as I drop my shield and lance, and lance,
my finest court finery, and glance, and glance,
at the lady with whom I shall dance, shall dance?

249 posted on 09/06/2004 7:07:23 PM PDT by Old Sarge (ZOT 'em all, let MOD sort 'em out!)

ms feather.....#200!!

250 posted on 09/06/2004 7:07:26 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Troops Who Protect Her)

I guess I wasn't clear enough in my change request. #236 is gone now. LOL ... But, at least you got the point across in #241, so all's well that ends well, I guess. ;)

251 posted on 09/06/2004 7:11:15 PM PDT by Fawnn (Canteen wOOhOO Consultant and CookingWithPam.com person - Faith makes things possible, not easy.)

To: Kathy in Alaska

Kathy in Alaska!!! #250!!!

252 posted on 09/06/2004 7:15:40 PM PDT by Fawnn (Canteen wOOhOO Consultant and CookingWithPam.com person - Faith makes things possible, not easy.)

Good evening, Fawnn! Good day today? Word count? Questions?

How about some toast?

253 posted on 09/06/2004 7:18:53 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Troops Who Protect Her)

To: Kathy in Alaska

well wasnt that a lot of fun? L0L

254 posted on 09/06/2004 7:22:29 PM PDT by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)

To: Kathy in Alaska

Yesterday's was 30 q&a's/2747 words

So far today I'm at 10/693

(My holiday's been almost as much fun as yours.) ;)

255 posted on 09/06/2004 7:24:27 PM PDT by Fawnn (Canteen wOOhOO Consultant and CookingWithPam.com person - Faith makes things possible, not easy.)

wonder why the mod clipped that post? Hmmm nothing nasty in it

256 posted on 09/06/2004 7:24:41 PM PDT by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)

To: Kathy in Alaska

Hey! Thanks Kathy!! :o) Good to be home!

257 posted on 09/06/2004 7:24:45 PM PDT by StarCMC (It's God's job to forgive Bin Laden, it's our job to arrange the meeting.)

Maybe he didn't have time to correct the link.

258 posted on 09/06/2004 7:25:53 PM PDT by Fawnn (Canteen wOOhOO Consultant and CookingWithPam.com person - Faith makes things possible, not easy.)

Awww! Missed that hug this weekend! I'm back - now are YOU here?? LOL!!

259 posted on 09/06/2004 7:25:59 PM PDT by StarCMC (It's God's job to forgive Bin Laden, it's our job to arrange the meeting.)

To: Old Sarge; Radix

A tip of the hat to you and Radix for the fun captions.
Always good for a chuckle or two.

260 posted on 09/06/2004 7:28:24 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Troops Who Protect Her)

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