Labour Day. For some it means nothing more than a long weekend, a Monday off from work. For others, it signals the end of summer, an official return to the daily 
grind. For kids, it’s back to school (groan). For Canadians, it’s also the last long weekend before Thanksgiving, which begins the countdown to Christmas.
How we’ll spend the day, is different for everyone. Those who spent the weekend away from home are probably heading back. They could be packing up their cars, preparing for their long drives home as I write this. Or in long lines, waiting to go through airport security, or board trains and busses. Others are packing up cottages. Lots of us will hang out in our backyards, sharing a beer or two with friends and family.
We’ll play tennis and golf. Swim, sail and water ski. We’ll read. Listen to music. Go to amusement parks and flea markets and county fairs. Nap. And we’ll take advantage of all the special Labour Day sales at many stores.
But for many members of the work force — those who protect, serve and care for us — like doctors and nurses, police and fire fighters, emergency workers, taxi and transit drivers, retailers, restaurateurs and more, it’s not a holiday at all. For them it’s just another day at the office.
Being as curious as I am, I decided to spend an hour or two of my Labour Day, researching the history of the holiday. What I’ve found is kind of interesting. To begin with, Labour Day is celebrated in many countries around the world: Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cuba, India, Jamaica, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Sweden, Middle East, Trinidad and Tobago — and, Continue reading
365 And Counting 