As Labour Day is upon us, tradition dictates it’s your last day to wear any white before putting it away for the season tomorrow. While that ages old habit, to not wear white after Labour Day, is one of the lighter customs surrounding the unofficial end of summer, there’s plenty of folklore associated with the holiday.
Here’s a bit more Labour Day history and trivia;
Canada First: Labour/Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday in September by both Canada and the USA, however it has its roots in the Canadian Labour Movement. Officially a statutory holiday since 1894 the history begins in 1872. An April 15 labour demonstration in Toronto, in support of Toronto Typographical Union striking printers, led directly to the enactment of the Trade Unions Act, a law that confirmed the legality of unions. A royal commission recommended the enactment of a Labour holiday in 1889 and it finally gained royal assent in July 1894. An American labor leader witnessed a labour celebration in 1882 and was inspired to make the push in the USA.
Unions: As a result of the hard earned Trade Unions Act, the right to join a union and the right to strike in Canada are protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Spring to Fall: Labour Day was originally celebrated in the Spring, which is still the norm in many countries who tie their Labour Day to International Workers Day on May 1st, when the holiday became a national holiday it was given the first Monday of September.
Sports: The Canadian Football League’s Labour Day Classic game regularly features close geographical and fan rivals: Toronto v Hamilton, Edmonton v Calgary, Winnipeg v Saskatchewan. The US Open takes place
Summer: For many, Labour Day is the unofficial end of summer. Students head back to school tomorrow, many Canadian Agricultural Festivals and Fairs wrap up today, including; Canadian National Exhibition, Pacific National Exhibition, Saanich Fair and more.
Labour Day also finds many making use of the day to observe parades, gather for picnics and barbeques, or shop for back-to-school. Which ever way you are celebrating, take a moment to remember the labourers who came before, and lead to a sweeping movement that has provided benefits for generations to come.