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Opinion

Labor Day

Labor Day will soon be here. A day that originated by means of the activism of the labor movement to honor the working classes. It is celebrated in various countries, and for different purposes. It is even celebrated on different days throughout the year. But I will focus on Labor Day here in the United States.

Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894, by which time it was already being celebrated in thirty states. Therefore, most of the public sector (i.e. various federal, state, and local government agencies) would be closed. The schools (both public and private) would also be closed. In fact, some school districts would begin their school years following Labor Day (something that is common in other countries).

Labor Day became designated as the first Monday in September, and hence is the conclusion of the Labor Day weekend. It has also become the unofficial end of summer, and seems to have drifted away from its original intentions.

Some portions of the private sector are closed, but others will be open. In fact, many businesses will have special sales going on. Various pools and beaches will be open for the last time before closing for the year.

It was a custom for Labor Day to be the last day to wear white, but this fashion trend is no longer practiced.

The Labor Day Weekend has also become a time for friends and relatives to get together and have picnics, cookouts, barbecues, etc.

Aside from there being a Week Zero, the college football season begins on Labor Day Weekend (sometimes even starting on a Thursday). Some of the biggest rivalries in college football have taken place during the Labor Day weekend. They include the Notre Dame-Michigan rivalry, the Florida State-Miami rivalry, the Georgia-Clemson rivalry, the Kentucky-Louisville rivalry, the Tennessee-UCLA rivalry, and the Colorado-Colorado State rivalry.

The National Football League (NFL) used to start its regular season on Labor Day weekend, but now does so on the following weekend. In fact, in recent years the NFL would conclude its preseason on the Friday prior to Labor Day.

Of course, the pandemic and political climate have dampened the college and professional football schedules, with the NFL cancelling its preseason and only around half the schools in the FBS Division playing football this fall. Various other Labor Day activities have also felt the impact of the pandemic. However, most people are determined to enjoy the Labor Day weekend.

So my advice to all of you out there is enjoy it as well.

Andrew Linn

Andrew Linn is a member of the Owensboro Tea Party and a former Field Representative for the Media Research Center. An ex-Democrat, he became a Republican one week after the 2008 Presidential Election. He has an M.A. in history from the University of Louisville, where he became a member of the Phi Alpha Theta historical honors society. He has also contributed to examiner.com and Right Impulse Media.

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