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136 Labor Day 2
040906 (Japanese, 040920; English, 040930)
Photos:
<
www.exploreamerica.info > Photo Gallery > National Holidays > Labor Day
Labor Day T-shirts messages <
http://www.workdayminnesota.org/view_article.php?id=d1ad88b8ef6d1d2e252fec02639df45e
>
Labor Day is observed on the first Monday in September, and on this Day almost
all Americans get a day off 1). The day after Labor Day, schools
such as elementary school, mid-school, and high school usually will start their
new school years 2). Most students do not feel very happy because
they still miss the long - almost three months - summer vacation. In addition,
Minnesotans sense winter is sneaking up on them because around one week after
Labor Day they may start to get snow.
As for a sort of the history of Labor Day, both the US and Canada celebrate
Labor Day on the first Mon. in September. This day corresponds to May Day, on
May 1st, when many other countries, except for the US and Canada,
observe 3, 4). This year, for the first time, we attended the Labor
Day picnic held by the Saint Paul Area Trades and Labor Assembly, AFL-CIO 5
- 8). Officials estimated that around 12,000 people gathered at this
picnic. The picnic was held at the Harriet Regional Park, in St. Paul, which is
on the Mississippi and has a big open lawn space. There were many tent booths of
various kinds of unions and a voter registration booth. Several invited
speakers talked to the picnic crowd and some entertainments such as dances and
music were performed on the stage.
Before attending the picnic, we anticipated that Labor Day speeches would be
loud and could sometimes be obnoxious. However, the speeches were not so loud,
so we could relax and enjoy staying there. There were entertainment even for
kids, and our impression of this picnic was that many people could have fun
participating in this picnic.
As you know, this
year on November 2nd, we will have the Presidential Election.
Therefore, well-known politicians such as President George W. Bush, First Lady
Laura Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Mrs. Lynne Cheney, Sen. John Kerry, Sen.
John Edwards, and Sen. John McCain, often visit Minnesota. In fact, Sen.
Edwards came to this St. Paul Labor Day picnic and spoke to the picnic crowd.
The crowd seemed supportive of Kerry-Edwards. Yup! We saw Sen. Edwards in
person. On this same day, Vice President Cheney and Mrs. Cheney visited the
Minnesota State Fair. This is held in St. Paul in the neighborhood of the
Harriet
Regional
Park. They met with many people visiting the fair.
Here is a
question on Labor Day from a Japanese:
”On Labor Day, are there many picnics organized by unions in Minnesota or
nationwide? I feel there are not so many picnics by unions, and people just
relax to enjoy the three-day weekend. Am I right? Thx. “
Two Americans’
comments to the above question:
A’s view
”I think for the typical person, they don't go to union picnics. In fact, I had
never heard of them until you mentioned them. Few people in my family were/are
in a union, and none were actively involved, so maybe my perspective is warped.
But I don't recall any friends or classmates of mine ever talking about this
either.
So I think
you are right -- I think this is not a common event for most Americans.”
B’s view
”I agree
with you and A. I don't think many people go to union picnics on Labor Day. My
wife belongs to a union and she has never gone to anything like that. But she is
not that active with her union either.
So I
think you are correct that people just enjoy the long weekend.”
References - Web sites relating to Labor Day:
(1) Explore America Info Newsletter 7 <
www.exploreamerica.info > e-mail Newsletter > Letter #7
(2) Explore America Info Newsletter 5 <
www.exploreamerica.info > e-mail Newsletter > Letter #5
(3) History of Labor Day (Department of Labor)
<
http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/laborday.htm >
(4) May Day >>> Labor Day in the US
<
http://www.ronaldbrucemeyer.com/rants/0501a-almanac.htm >
(5) Work Day Minnesota <
http://www.workdayminnesota.org/view_article.php?id=a3d2e1e84a19341570a7c95e89cd7ec1
>
(6) St. Paul Labor Day Picnic <
http://www.workdayminnesota.org/view_article.php?id=ca81af716b1aed0cf5f2f51fa7e73359
>
(7) Saint Paul Area Trades and Labor Assembly, AFL-CIO <
http://www.stpaulunions.org/ >
AFL-CIO
(American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations)
(8) MN (Minnesota) AFL-CIO
<
http://www.mnaflcio.org/ >
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