Labor Day

Labor Day

Labor Day: the last long weekend of summer and the first long weekend of fall. Labor Day falls on the first Monday of September. The summer closes with a bang. One more trip to the lake, one more excursion to the beach, one more weekend to complete those outdoor summer projects. Labor Day weekend brims with activities, memories of summer gone by, and expectations of what fall will bring.

This holiday was originally established to celebrate the workers of our country. Men and women of the past who formed unions to fight for their freedoms made it possible for us to enjoy the luxuries of today.

Although the majority of people in the United States are not members of unions, they have all benefited from the historical fight for freedom unions fought over 100 years ago. Few celebration of workers activities are held today, but we all rest from our labors and the name of this special day reminds us of those Knights of Labor who stood up for workers' rights.

Here are some ideas to celebrate Labor Day:

* Have a Knights of Labor BBQ invite family and friends and have them dress up as knights. Have paper tube jousts and suction cup archery contests. Post a picture of a knight's horse on a wall and pin the name of an original Knights of Labor onto the horse as the rider.
* Have a Minimum Wage Lunch Rounds set up a lunch rounds with friends and family. Visit each participating home and receive a portion of a meal for under minimum wage. For example, visit the Whites and receive cool aid; visit the Browns and receive hotdogs; visit the Blacks and receive a Jello dessert.
* Put on your own Labor Day Parade have your kids dress up as different workers (tailors, construction workers, mechanics, etc.), play parade music and march around your back yard. Finish the march with throwing confetti and eating hamburgers.