A Labor Day message from Lucy and Aunt Bernadetta!

Elsa

On the first Monday of September, Canadians and Americans will be celebrating Labor Day.  Let’s take a look at how this all began. 

 

In the late 1800s, at the height of the Industrial Revolution in the United States, the average American worked 12-hour days and seven-day weeks in order to earn a basic living.  People of all ages, particularly the very poor and recent immigrants, often faced extremely unsafe working conditions, with insufficient access to fresh air, sanitary facilities and breaks.  As manufacturing increasingly surpassed agriculture,  labor unions grew more prominent and vocal. They began organizing strikes and rallies to protest the poor working conditions and to compel the employers to renegotiate hours and pay.

 

On May 1, 1886, as a protest in support of an 8-hour workday, thousands of workers around the country went on strike.   The day commemorated the Haymarket affair, which took place on 4 May.  It began as a peaceful rally near Chicago's Haymarket Square before turning violent when a protestor threw a bomb at police.  It was because of this incident that the date of the celebration was changed from May 1 to the first Monday in September.

Canada’s Labour Date also occurs on the first Monday in September.  Its roots date back to 1872 in Toronto. That year, printers took to the streets to implement a legal 9-hour work day; however, the strikers were jailed because unions were illegal in Canada.  As a result of the printers’ arrests, more than 10,000 protestors took to the streets of Toronto. Eventually, Prime Minister Sir John A. McDonald not only repealed the laws prohibiting union activity, but he also released the organizers from jail.  In 1894, Prime Minister John Thompson signed an order officially adopting the date as Labour Day.

Although Labor Day in the US has changed the date to the first Monday in September, 1 May is still honored as International Worker’s Day in many countries. 

Now I’d like to hear from all of you.  Please share some fun facts about your country.

1)  Please tell us what country you live in.

2)  Does your country recognize International Workers Day and on what date?

3)  Does your country celebrate this day and, if so, how is it celebrated ?

Diamond Lim

Thanks for your information of American and Canadian Labour Day History while I understand this history! @Elsa 🤗

1. I am live in Malaysia. 🇲🇾
2. Yes. International Worker's Day is on 1st May every year.
3. No. Mostly of the workers will rest on this day but some workers is still working on this day. We haven't celebrated this day in my country. 

Elsa

Thank you @Lim!  Could you tag anyone here that plays the game so that they can add their comments too?  I've posted this in a few different games but let's try to get some Diamond Diaries players to respond here.

Diamond Lim

Okay! I will mention the players! @Elsa 😊

Hello! Guys! What's about you? 
@PummyRaj, @Foley1362, @mysticalmysty, @Lucas_Yan_Maia, @Kimkay, @KitKathySuzyQ, @Ashraf, @Jelly Jenny, @Leony and @QueenRaffie 😊

LadyRaffie

Hello @Elsa !

That's a nice post! 
So, my answers :

1)  Spain

2)  Yes! Actually, it's due to the martyrs of Chicago that we recognize it!  And it's still on the original date: 1st of May

3) Yes. That day is a "bank holiday" and so noone works. The celebration really depends on each one. Some take it as a day off and relax, stays at home or gets the extra off day to go somewhere else on holidays. Other people use this day to go protest with unions on the street for better salaries, working hours, etc. 

Have a Brilliant afternoon! 

Elsa

Wow @QueenRaffie I never knew that some people still protest on the streets.  Here in the USA it's just a Federal holiday and the banks and post office is closed.  This is one more holiday weekend of sales for all the stores.  Here the unions aren't as strong as they used to be.  My son works for the phone company and they still have a union.  I think other than that it might be the electricians and plumbers but most of the unions aren't as effective anymore.

Another interesting fact was them connecting May Day as the same thing but then talked about the Maypole and celebrating.  So I wonder if some countries celebrate both ways.

Lucas_Yan_Maia

I live in Brazil 🇧🇷
and the worker's day is May 1st 💻
and to celebrate this day, companies take a day off for workers🏖

Elsa

Thanks for sharing @Lucas_Yan_Maia.  

KitKathySuzyQ

United States 
We celebrate Labor Day the first Monday of September 
We have a 3 day weekend and our area has a Country Fair fair that is always Labor Day Weekend

Elsa

Thanks for sharing @KitKathySuzyQ.  I live in New Jersey and we don't do anything here and that's a shame!  I was on Google last night to find out which states celebrate with a parade and New York does but their neighboring state, New Jersey, doesn't.  How sad!