Sunday, Sunday ..

We're lucky in the US this weekend. It's the Labor Day holiday and most people -- including me -- don't have to work this Monday. Thank God for small favors! It means I can procrastinate some more and put off until tomorrow things that I would normally have had to do today.

Well, get up, watch Charles Osgood, drink coffee, eat breakfast- About then, my wife gets up. We spend time at the computers, then decide to go somewhere, even if for a drive and back home. Usually wash our vehicles. It's becoming a luxury to drive very much. Home, we read, write, play with the computers, interact with the dogs, spend the evening with TV and computers. I try to rest my body for the weekly ordeal ahead: Blue Monday.

Well, for me, weekends are a time to try to relax some, refuel for the following work week.

Like our brethren to the south, Monday here is also Labour Day. So, an extra day to unwind, or catch up on little chores.

Today, my wife and I did our annual clean the windows inside and out. A bit of a pain, but nice to have out of the way.

On weekends I spend a fair bit of time on the computer, mainly here. I find that quite relaxing.

Evenings, if there's something on the tube, we'll watch that. If not, I usually have something recorded on our DVD unit.

We each have a cat on our laps, spending some quality family time together.

This year is going to be a big change for me, and my wife, because I will be going on pre-retirement leave at the end of this year. Really looking forward to it. It will become a different and more pleasant routine. I do have plans on finding a part time job, though, to try and keep up on unexpected expenses, etc.

A pleasure to share your Sunday! Enjoy Monday, you lucky people!

Just one question: I take it that Labor/Labour Day in the US & Canada is the day workers are celebrated .. Is that right? (If so, a pleasantly leftish idea! We do it here, too.) Does anyone actually celebrate the contribution of workers in any special way?

That is the general idea, MsO. However, the celebration itself usually takes the form of backyard parties with the barbie going strong and closing up any summer property one might have. It's the semi-official end of Summer here. No more wearing white slacks after today.

Ah. Thanks for explaining, Andrew.
A rather melancholy time, the end of summer.
I had visions of masses workers taking to the streets & marching proudly, as they're showered with rose petals & much adoration.





Just kidding! Nice idea, though, you've gotta admit!

I think that when this holiday was first instituted, there might have been parades by labour unions. But that's fallen by the wayside. Parades, after all, are so militaristic. People just want to 'chill' and enjoy the last days of Summer.

Of course!

<but I still do the May Day thing on the odd year .... >

The Labour Day movement started in Canada and moved to the U.S. One of the few things that have worked out that way. Below is a short explanation:

Labour Day

Labour Day is celebrated on the first Monday of September. It is a statutory holiday throughout Canada.

The Canadian labour movement can justly claim the title of originator of Labour Day. Peter J. McGuire, one of the founders of the American Federation of Labour has traditionally been known as the 'Father of Labour Day'. Historical evidence indicates that McGuire obtained his idea for the establishment of an annual demonstration and public holiday from the Canadian trade unionist.

Earliest records show that the Toronto Trades Assembly, perhaps the original central labour body in Canada, organized the first North American 'workingman's demonstration' of any significance for April 15,1872. The beribboned parade marched smartly in martial tread accompanied by four bands. About 10,000 Torontonians turned out to see the parade and listen to the speeches calling for abolition of the law which decreed that trade unions were criminal conspiracies in restraint of trade.

The freedom of 24 imprisoned leaders of the Toronto Typographical Union, on strike to secure the nine-hour working day, was the immediate purpose of the parade, on what was then Thanksgiving Day. It was still a crime to be a member of a union in Canada although the law of criminal conspiracy in restraint of trade had been repealed by the United Kingdom parliament in 1871.

Toronto was not the only city to witness a labour parade in 1872. On September 3, members of seven unions in Ottawa organized a parade more than a mile long, headed by the Garrison Artillery band and flanked by city fireman carrying torches.

The Ottawa parade wound its way to the home of Prime Minister Sir John A. MacDonald where the marchers hoisted him into a carriage and drew him to Ottawa City Hall by torchlight. 'The Old Chieftain', aware of the discontent of workers with the laws which made unions illegal, in a ringing declaration from the steps of the City Hall, promised the marchers that his party would 'sweep away all such barbarous laws from the statute books'.

The offending conspiracy laws were repealed by the Canadian government in 1872. The tradition established by the Toronto Trades Assembly was continued through the seventies and into the early 1880's.

In 1882, the Toronto Trades and Labour Council, successor to the TTA, decided to organize the annual demonstration and picnic for July 22. The council sent an invitation to Peter J. McGuire of New York requesting his services of as a speaker for the occasion. McGuire was the founder and general secretary of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters which had organized the previous year.

It was in the same year, that McGuire proposed at a meeting of the New York Central Labour Union that a festive day be set aside for a demonstration and picnic. Labour Day was first celebrated in New York on September 5,1882. It is apparent, however, that the custom had developed in Canada and the invitation sent to McGuire prompted his suggestion to the New York labour body.

Soon pressure for legislation to declare a national holiday for Labour Day was exerted in both Canada and the United States. In 1894 the government of Sir John Thompson enacted such legislation on July 23, with the Prime Minister piloting the bill through Parliament against the opposition of some of his Conservative followers.

Canadian trade unionists have celebrated this day set aside to honor those who labour' from the 1870's on. The first Labour Day parade in Winnipeg, in 1894, was two miles long.

There can be little doubt that the annual demonstrations of worker's solidarity each Labour Day in North America owe their inspiration to small group of 'illegal' members of the Toronto Trades Assembly.

Source[/color]

Likely you're right, Reyn. The Labor Day custom didn't start in the States until the late 1880s and the first Monday in September was designated as a Lbour Day holiday only in 1890-something. (I could look it up, but this is a day of rest and I'm feeling lazy, )

Yup..... :wink:

Thanks for that, Reyn. I'm very interested in this stuff!

Back to work this morning. At least it's Tuesday though and only 3 more days to go till the weekend....hehe!

... & may the goddess who looks after all workers be with you, Reyn!

... & come back next week & report on that Sunday, too!

Maybe you should start a thread entitled, "How was your day today?", and people could report in every day.

Very funny, Reyn. :wink:

But Sundays are DIFFERENT! This thread is for that special day!

What Sundays ?

Remember those days at the end of the week you used to take off, G? One of them was Sunday. Ya gotta stop working so bloody hard! (That's an order! )

Oooooh I like a dominant woman !!