Today is Labor Day in the US (and its territories) where the contributions of workers are acknowledged and celebrated for their role toward bringing strength and well-being of the nation. Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday of every September. Where you aware that if you work 40 hours or less a week, you can thank a union member for that benefit for their activism in the last century. Many workers will have today off and Labor Day is now thought of as the unofficial end to summer where many folks will enjoy a last BBQ get-together with friends and family on this holiday weekend, especially now that school is back in session. Many towns will have parades as well and of course, there will be an overabundance of retail sales events from sea to shining sea.
A brief history of Labor Day shows that as the trade and labor movements began to grow, calls for a day commemorating workers’ contributions were proposed. Back then, Colorado had long been progressive on social issues and was one of the first five states to enact legislation recognizing Labor Day. Oregon was the first state to officially make it a public holiday back in 1887. Labor Day became a national holiday in the U.S. in 1894. I believe our Canadian friends also celebrate “Labour Day” on the first Monday in September as well.
Life in the labor movement wasn’t all roses and candy. Following the deaths of workers during the Pullman Strike of 1894, Congress unanimously approved legislation making Labor Day a national holiday. President Grover Cleveland signed the law into effect shortly after the end of the strike to recognize all workers and their efforts and contribution to the nation.
The Ranch Hands will continue celebrating the birthday weekend as more family members will join us in southern Colorado (including baby Halia-yay!!). We sincerely wish you a safe Labor Day holiday, and hope you safely celebrate with pride for all your work accomplishments to the country.
Now for today’s Monday smile. When you work like a dog all year long, today seems the ‘pawfect’ day to relax and enjoy friends and family.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
We hope you all had a wonderful Labor Day. Now, can you send over that doggie, we have a lot Blackberries to harvest😺😺Thank you for stopping by our bloggie to celebrate our 2nd Gotcha Day with us🎉Double Pawkisses for a happy weekend🐾😽💞
Thank you; we did have a great Labor Day with lots of food and birthday celebrations! We’ll see if that poochie can swing by your garden to help you harvest. Hugs and tail wags with best wishes for loads more adventures.
Lulu: “We went to the park! It was great, and no labor was involved! Unless you count picking up our poop in plastic bags.”
Java Bean: “Ayyy, that’s not labor, Mama and Dada enjoy it!”
Lulu: “You think so?”
Java Bean: “Well, Dada scoops poop out of the cat pans every day, so I figure he must have a big poop collection somewhere …”
Oh yes, us ‘pawrents’ live to scoop. 🤣
Hope your long weekend was labor free, Monika.
Lots of labor but all for a great cause-celebrating my Dad’s 94th birthday. So very much worth it and I’d do it all again and twice on Sunday. 💙
So good!
Thank you for the interesting information about Labor Day. We had a cookout and I grilled and Rollo, our mini-Australian Shepherd got a hot dog and some fruit. In Sweden where I am originally from Labor Day is May 1st.
Good morning, Thomas. Sounds like you had a typical American Labor Day. Like the rest of Europe and Germany, my home country, they too celebrate on May 1. Elsa & Wilson did not get to partake of the meal (smoked tenderloin) like lucky Rollo. They’re feeling a bit sad about that. 😉
Great post about Labor Day…….we spent Labor Day NOT laboring a bit – just relaxing on the front porch and enjoying the idea that FALL will be falling soon!!!! Love the ‘toon!
Hugs, Pam and Teddy
Thank you. We had a lovely relaxing visit with the baby…so better than laboring but we’ll be back to it today. Gotta pick those berries, doncha know?! LOL
Thank you for the informative post
Thanks! I grew up in a union family and Labor Day was a big deal.
We’re winding down the day here in the east, but it has been a good day and a day to stop and remember the advances we owe to those who went before us.
Glad you’ve had a good day. And you’re right…it’s good to reflect on those who did the heavy lifting for all of us today.
Awww, this meme is just rich!
It’s always good to remember to accept our pets as they are, not how we might want them to be. Happy Monday and Labor Day.
Mew mew mew hee’ss NOT a huntin Poochie!!! More yore Gatherer Poochie fore sure!
***nose bopss*** BellaDharma an (((hugss))) BellaSita Mum
It’s a good reminder to accept them as they are, not how we may want them to be. 😉 Happy Monday.
Today is a busy day of working around the house for Mom as we have been out and about for the past three days. She has to catch up before work starts again tomorrow.
Hopefully you guys will be caught up and able to relax a bit this evening before she has to go back to work.
Benji:
I AM laboring today, snoopervising from my shady spots as the unfurbros put together a tarp covered shed thing…
Dalton:
I am working at keeping my petcretary safe from the intruders and pawppy…BOL!
We need the new shelter/shed to keep the extra junk safe from the elements as they don’t fi into the small shed we had put up last year to house the lawnmower and snow thrower. The sons are here to set it up….Happy Labor Day to them and we thank them too, since *we* couldn’t do it ourselves!
That is a cute cartoon! Dalton likes strawberries and mulberries, but Benji just sniffs at them!
Enjoy your holiday!
Laboring away, eh? Don’t work too hard-you need to reflect and relax on Labor Day. Happy Monday!
Happy Labor Day, Monika. I loved your cartoon. I hope you enjoy the rest of the day.
Thank you, John! Glad you enjoyed it. Happy Labor Day!
😊
Got my hard hat on, but believe me, no work, all play today. But then, I’m a cat, I play every day! Isn’t that what Elsa and Wilson do too?
Totally, except when you’re on security patrol. 😉 Happy Monday.
Happy Labor Day! XO
Happy Labor Day to you as well. It wasn’t until College really, that in the US History quarter I had, that I learned all I know about the Labor movements, why and what drove them to it. That American History instructor engendered my life long steady interest in both US and World History.
These days, too many people don’t realize the challenges of workers from the turn of the last century-lots of folks made sacrifices so that they weren’t essentially indentured servants in factories. I just wish people knew more about it. History is so fascinating when you think about and, hopefully, keeps us from making the same mistakes we use to make. 🤞🏼 Happy Monday, Carole.
Happy Labor Day! I love that non-hunting dog!!!
Glad you liked it! Happy Labor Day, Terry.
Enjoy your day!
No problem accommodating that wish. 👍🏻
Wonderful labor day facts. Birthday weekends need to be birthday months. Just saying.
Love the funny. You made me laugh out loud.
I linked this post to Awww Mondays as usual.
Have a fabulous day and week, my friend. Big hug to you and lots of scritches to the pups. ♥
I’m with you on extending the celebration! Glad you enjoyed today’s smile and as always, many thanks for including us in your Monday blog hop. Have a fantastic holiday.
Best wishes to your Dad!
Thanks so much. He’s been enjoying the attention of his family-it’s fun to watch him enjoying it.
Thanks M for the mini history lesson and of course for the chuckles. Have a great day with family and a good week with the Ranch Hands.
Thanks, Mike. Always our pleasure. We absolutely have to begin each week with a smile. It’s a good way to start out the week and if we can provide a bit of info with it, all the better. Have a ‘wagnificent’ holiday.
Thank you. It will be warm later today and for the next few days but it was a glorious 51ºF for our morning walk. It was great! Have a terrific holiday.
I Yam what I Yam!, Not a hunting dog
Sometimes I can’t help wonder if Wilson and Elsa if they’re the typical dog for their respective breed. Happy Monday!
Just so you know, you don’t need quotes for Labour Day 😉 AND… didja know that it was a joint Canada-USA thing?
On 22 July 1882, a labour celebration in Toronto attracted the attention of American labour leader Peter J. McGuire, who organised a similar parade in New York City on 5 September that year. Unions associated with the Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor in both Canada and the United States subsequently promoted parades and festivals on the first Monday in September.
Most of the world celebrates Labour Day or Worker’s Day on May 1. The things we learn, eh?
Happy Labor/Labour Day my friend!
McGuire is often called the father of the modern labor movement in the U.S. In the past, some folks have commented it’s a typo spelling it ‘labour’ so I typically put it in quotes. Decided I don’t need my handle cranked on a holiday. 😉 Hope you have a safe and relaxing holiday.
Indeed. And you know I am teasing you 100%. There are a lot of Canadians who have taken to American spelling 😉
It is so relaxed, I’m on my third cup, trying to decide on where to go for a walk…
😆
😘
I am glad to learn that we share this holiday. I’ll try to remember next year!
We and Australia. And the rest of the world, minus a few places, have it on May 1 🙂
Well, I think we’re in good company.
😀
Handsome beagle in the Labor Day hat. Is pup a union member?
Hee, hee…I think all dogs think they belong to a union. They’re always negotiating for more treats. Hope you have a safe and enjoyable holiday.
Part of the dog treat collective bargaining contract.
{Giggle, giggle} Now that’s they way to negotiate! Happy Labor Day.
Have a wonderful trip to be with the family…and that dog may not be a hunter but he is certainly a gatherer!
Thanks, Helen, we’ve been having a terrific time (and visit, thus far). When I found that cartoon, it reminded me of Wilson. The jury’s still out if he’ll be a suitable therapy dog at hospital. He stays a bit too close to me even though he loves meeting people. It’s still early days. I couldn definitely see him as a gatherer of treats! Happy Monday.
Have a fabulous Labor Day in SoCo! The weather should be gorgeous.