1. Wreybies

    Wreybies Thrice Retired Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    May 1, 2008
    Messages:
    23,826
    Likes Received:
    20,815
    Location:
    El Tembloroso Caribe

    Labor Day

    Discussion in 'The Lounge' started by Wreybies, Sep 3, 2010.

    From Wikipedia:

    An unusual start to a holiday that now, more than anything, in the U.S. is thought of as the last summer hurrah before the kids go back to school.

    What strange or difficult to explain/understand holiday do you have in your own country? Let us share and thus be enriched! :)
     
  2. natsuki

    natsuki Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2010
    Messages:
    194
    Likes Received:
    11
    Location:
    São Leopoldo - RS, Brazil
    Here in Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state of Brazil, we have a holiday called "Revolução Farroupilha". The day is celebrated because of a revolution that took place a long time ago when gauchos (natives from Rio Grande do Sul) fought to separate the state from the rest of Brazil.

    They lost, in the end, but we celebrate the day the revolution started (20th September) untill now :)
     
  3. Mercurial

    Mercurial Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2009
    Messages:
    3,451
    Likes Received:
    116
    Do really kids not go back to school before Labor Day in PR? When I was in grades K-12 we went back to school during the first or second week in August. Neighboring school systems usually started a week after that, but I know one high school started as early as August 1st this year.

    My first year of college, classes started on August 30th. (So consequently, since Labor Day is just the following Monday, I do have classes, even though it's state-funded, public school. Our rival school, which started two weeks before we did, is also state-funded and public and has Labor Day off. :rolleyes: I dont get it.
    But one of my professors cancelled class anyway, so I only have to attend one class.

    I think another strange US holiday is President's Day. It's pretty easy to understand --it's the day when people are supposed to observe presidents' birthdays, but the date confuses me (yes, I know it's Washington's birthday, but why did we choose his and not Lincoln's or Jefferson's if it's supposed to be for all the presidents?), and why kids get school off on President's Day, yet no one has school or work off on Election Day, is also mystifying.
     
  4. Annûniel

    Annûniel Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2008
    Messages:
    563
    Likes Received:
    32
    Location:
    Ye Old Dominion, USA
    It depends on the school. The county I grew up in started school the Tuesday after Labor Day, but I also know that many other school districts start earlier. So before college, I wouldn't be in school until after Labor Day. Though I've never heard of any starting later than the day after Labor Day.
     
  5. Aconite

    Aconite New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2010
    Messages:
    178
    Likes Received:
    3
    Location:
    Albany, NY, USA
    Mercurial, I'm right there with you. I teach at a public, state-funded university, and we had classes today. It's utterly mystifying, particularly since the staff has off (operating with a skeleton crew), and the faculty (yours truly) does not. The students were less than enthusiastic today, needless to say, and I can't really say that I blame them!
     
  6. Pallas

    Pallas Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2009
    Messages:
    1,172
    Likes Received:
    36
    Location:
    New York
    It's a day to remember we need more labor in this country, and a substantially higher minimum wage.
     
  7. JessaNova

    JessaNova New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2010
    Messages:
    126
    Likes Received:
    6
    Location:
    Florida
    I think this holiday is so pointless. People get this and Memorial Day mixed up all the time. I say, get outta here! Half the country is unemployed anyway. Pfft...
     
  8. mammamaia

    mammamaia nit-picker-in-chief Contributor

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2006
    Messages:
    19,150
    Likes Received:
    1,034
    Location:
    Coquille, Oregon
    to me [and, i suspect to most/all moms], 'labor day' means only the day [or more] we spent birthing each child and then every day thereafter that it took for us to get that child reared and out on its own...

    'labor day'?... try 'labor life'!
     
  9. jacklondonsghost

    jacklondonsghost New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2010
    Messages:
    1,039
    Likes Received:
    10
    Location:
    Buffalo, NY
    I worked all day today. The people who do real labor don't even get Labor Day off.
     
  10. mammamaia

    mammamaia nit-picker-in-chief Contributor

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2006
    Messages:
    19,150
    Likes Received:
    1,034
    Location:
    Coquille, Oregon
    Yup!
     
  11. Astin Foyle

    Astin Foyle New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2010
    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    0
    I'm intrigued. Do you hold an International Worker's Day on May the 1st as well, or is this your equivalent?
     
  12. Wreybies

    Wreybies Thrice Retired Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    May 1, 2008
    Messages:
    23,826
    Likes Received:
    20,815
    Location:
    El Tembloroso Caribe
    Roughly equivalent. And no, we do not do the IWD on May 1st.
     
  13. Lavarian

    Lavarian Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2009
    Messages:
    4,562
    Likes Received:
    93
    I worked all day too. Though, I don't know if you'd call it real labor since I played guitar for half the day.
    Does dealing with idiots all day count as labor?
     

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice