For those of us in the US this weekend we celebrate Labor Day. The first Monday of every September is a national holiday. Sadly we've strayed from the initial intent. Instead of celebrating the hard workers who built this country we now celebrate ostentatious wealth and the handful of people who now pull all the strings.
Shouldn't businesses be closed on such a holiday allowing workers to actually spend some time with family? Apparently not since the newspapers are filled with advertising for Labor Day sales.
So here's to the folks who must work next Monday, many at minimum wage. I'm sure they'd rather spend the day with family and friends having a picnic in the shade of a big tree along a gently flowing river.
Click on image to see it larger.
Labor Day is also an unofficial bridge between summer and fall. Though technically summer doesn't end until later in September, the Labor Day holiday is always the last hurrah. Kids are back to school, workers are remembering their summer vacations, and Christmas decorations start showing up in stores. Wait, I think Christmas decorations started a few months ago.
This is my submission for this weeks Sepia Saturday theme, bridges.
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Tattered and Lost: Cakes, Picnics, and Watermelon
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A nice bridging take on the theme. And you're right about Labor Day - it was originally meant for all laborers to have a day off from work but things don't always remain as they should, unfortunately. I haven't seen any Christmas things yet, but our local Wal Mart's shelves are already full of Halloween stuff. Geez.
ReplyDeleteYes, the bags of candy pushing Halloween have been on the shelves for a few months now.
DeleteI hate the way all holidays have been destroyed by profit margins.
I second that.
DeleteThe date of Labour Day in Australia depends on the state you live in. In Victoria where I live it's in March, but in most other states it's in October. Spring has supposedly sprung here now, but although spring flowers are blooming, we're still waiting for the weather to warm up.
ReplyDeleteA different take on this week's theme. We have nothing like Labour Day in Britain, though England has a public holiday the last Monday in August which I guess marks the end of summer. No such luck in Scotland where we have to wait until the end of November to get a long weekend break when we mark St. Andrew's Day.
ReplyDeleteWonderful perspective on "bridges!" And I, too, regret the shift in celebrating Labor Day -- and how ironic that a lot of the people with a paid long weekend are now against labor unions....hmmmmm!
ReplyDeleteLove the post, love the image, love the sentiments.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about Labor Day; it's lost that original intent. Big stores use it as another means to draw more people into their stores. so sad
ReplyDeleteWhat nice take on the prompt and such a lovely photo.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding us to stop and relax a moment. Summer is over and Yes, the busy Holiday Season is about to hit us head on. Wish I were down by that riverside enjoying a little Bar-B-Q
ReplyDeleteI do love a picnic and realise now that that is what I should have planned for today. Silly me. It's nice in the sun but still a bit cold at home in the shade.
ReplyDeleteI'm getting tired of everyone going on about how Labour Day is the unofficial end of summer. I know it's true, I'm just tired of being reminded!
ReplyDeleteI am in full agreement with you, and it seems the all mighty dollar makes much fuss during these holidays. Car dealerships for one, they say this is one of their biggest selling days! I really enjoyed your photos as well.
ReplyDeleteWhere does the time go? I seem to recall living someplace as a child where school began after Labor Day, and ended the Friday before Memorial Day. Halloween was a handmade costume we whipped together a couple of days before the end of October, and Christmas? well don't get me started. Perhaps if was all just a mid-summer night's dream.
ReplyDeleteYes, school began after Labor Day. Now it's anytime within August. When it began after Labor Day it was truly the end of summer for all kids going back to school.
DeleteI'm afraid we're just old my friend. Just old.
I guess I better start thinking about getting the Christmas tree up...
ReplyDelete'cause it takes 3 months to translate thinking about it into action!
You are right! Just thinking about the shopping makes my eyes cross.
Delete