what is labor day

[littlelaura]

can someone tell me what labor day signifies/why its celebrated?
is it a standard or 'special' holiday?
will the shops still be open on labor day (we've planned to visit the florida mall)?

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Labor Day is a day set aside to pay tribute to working men and women. It has been celebrated as a national holiday in the USA and Canada since 1894.

To be honest I do not know about the shops, maybe post on the US forum?

 

[Boodle]

can someone tell me what labor day signifies/why its celebrated?
is it a standard or 'special' holiday?
will the shops still be open on labor day (we've planned to visit the florida mall)?

It's a national holiday so on the day itself expect a lot of banks, businesses etc to be closed - thankfully not the theme parks!

 

[wifey]

It has it's roots way back in history we used to have something similar here. Each summer the labourers on farms and in small mills and factories and foundries used to get together and advertise their skills and experience in a job (and dress in their best clothes and of course they would bathe and have a hair cut) and the folks who wanted workers on the farms or in the mills or factories would assess them and review and haggle out a fair (or not) wage for the work to be one and decide whether they would employ them for a set term. Once the agreement was made they would go to work and at the end of the agreed period the hired workers would return to the trade fairs to try to find employment again. There used to be a period of a few days between the employer wanting them to finish the job and rehiring which became a holiday and people would have picnics and parties with families and friends who would get together and celebrate the end of the employment term.
Modern Labour Day is a way of saying those days are not forgotten and that those men and women who helped to found many towns and companies are still remembered today for their hard work and dedication.It's also supped to celebrate the *8 hour work day* set by the Victorians as a fair working practice 8 hours work plus 8 hours recreation and 8 hours sleep became the much aspired standard day for many workers in the 1890's due to workers reforms.

 

[HeresYourEars]

Federal and state offices are closed (banks, post office, etc.). Stores are open though, in fact, most stores advertise great sales and mark-downs.

Labor Day is our big final summer holiday weekend.

A word of warning: State and city police are usually out in force on holiday weekends, doing extra checks for drunk drivers and tagging speeders more than usual. If you're driving on a holiday weekend over here, be extra cautious!

 

[bronny]

Ooh, I've always wondered this as well. And also why shouldn't you wear white after Labour Day?

 

[littlelaura]

thanks

 

[HeresYourEars]

Ooh, I've always wondered this as well. And also why shouldn't you wear white after Labour Day?

Certain items of white clothing are considered to be summer attire in many parts of the US. Wearing white after Labor Day is thought by some people to look inappropriate.

I think at Disney you can feel free to wear any color you want without fear of ridicule.

 

[bronny]

Certain items of white clothing are considered to be summer attire in many parts of the US. Wearing white after Labor Day is thought by some people to look inappropriate.

I think at Disney you can feel free to wear any color you want without fear of ridicule.

Thanks, I always wondered about that! I just thought there may have been a 'tradition' behind it associated with the holiday.

 

[disneyholic family]

Thanks, I always wondered about that! I just thought there may have been a 'tradition' behind it associated with the holiday.

nothing to do with the holiday - just the fact that it marks the end of summer...

and the generally accepted marker for the beginning of summer is memorial day..

so in the northern states of the US (like where i'm from), you're ridiculed if you wear white before Memorial day (end of May) and after Labor day (first monday in September).

I'm not talking about winter white, which doesn't count.

But white summer attire will definitely draw stares in many places in the US..

 

[wifey]

I don't care I'll be wearing my white summer Broderie Anglaise dress to the YSH no matter what happens It's the closest we will have come to seeing any real 'summer' weather all year since it's rained so much here I might have to break out some accessories too, it's our summer holiday and we want some sun .