BY MICHAEL GOODPASTER
So we all like three day weekends, right? We impatiently wait for them to come so we can have one extra day of leisure. It’s an excuse to travel, to have a family gathering, sleep in, or get some extra housework done. It’s pretty much just some extra free time, right?
I’m not trying to play ignorant or spark controversy, but does ANYONE care about Labor Day? I’m going to go one step farther, but sadly a lot of people don’t even know the difference between Labor Day and Memorial Day. I’m not singling anyone out. I’m the same boat. Ask me in March on a random day when Labor Day is and when Memorial Day is and there is a fair chance I’d mix up the dates.
I’m not a jerk. I want people to be happy, fulfilled, enlightened, and celebrated. It’s just these holidays are not the “big ones”. If these “excuse for an three day weekends” were states, douchey industry people would call them “fly over holidays”.
I appreciate the day off. I do, but I just think the reasons for these days aren’t being observed in the proper respect. Shit, these holidays aren’t even as explained as much as they should be.
Of course when you take a step back, the idea of “Labor Day” is about celebrating the working man. The hard work that goes into making this country function SHOULD be acknowledged, appreciated, and celebrated. But instead, it’s just another three day weekend. Maybe we need to organize this more. We need to give the holiday more an identity, some kind of gratitude exchange, some kind of specific symbolism, or even some sort of entertainment tradition.
That’s just it… the word “Tradition”. That’s what the day lacks. I’m sure people have their own celebrations, but in mass we don’t go all out like we do for the Fourth, Easter, Halloween, Christmas, or the other late-year cultural holidays.
The problem is no one seems to want to put the work in to properly celebrate Labor Day.
Go figure.
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