To most Americans, Labor Day has become the last hurrah of summer.
Backyard barbecues, scrambling to squeeze in that last day before the pool closes, catching the long weekend sales to complete the new school year wardrobe.
And for the older crowd, it’s the last day you’re allowed to wear white, which at least at one time was apparently the official color of summer for the elite.
The holiday has become all about celebrating the close of summer and not at all about remembering the struggle that initiated the holiday.
The History of Labor Day
While it appears that Labor Day was initially a thing in Canada, its United States roots were the result of push back that began in the 1890s against bleak working conditions.
American laborers were working 12+ hours a day, in often hazardous environments, for wages that didn’t even come close to supporting any reasonable standard of living.
Children were also effected, as factories and plants routinely “employed” children as young as five years old.
As labor unions began to form against such conditions, strikes and protests grew increasingly common, and often turned violent and even deadly.
The Formalization of Labor Day
On September 5, 1882, the Central Labor Union in New York held a parade to show support for all unions and celebrate union workers.
Over 10,000 union workers took unpaid time off work to participate in this first Labor Day parade.
President Grover Cleveland made it official in 1894, declaring Labor Day to be a national holiday.
Cleveland’s declaration came on the heels of a strike by 4,000 factory workers from the Pullman Railway Company who were protesting lowered wages.
The strike spurred rioting in which 30 people were killed and approximately $80 million in damages was seen.
Six days after calling in the Army to disperse the strikers, Cleveland announced the holiday, perhaps in an attempt to console disgruntled workers.
What Labor Day Means Today
Although today there are likely CEOs who make in a day what their employees make in a year, it’s hard to argue that Americans aren’t better off for the most part than they were in the 1890s.
No, the minimum wage is not a livable wage, and yes, unlawful discrimination still runs rampant in many workplaces.
But the good news is, we’re no longer tied to accepting what the best job we can get has to offer.
And we no longer have to be part of the well-educated and financially elite to start our own business.
Steve Jobs and Richard Branson are just two of many examples of the fact that you don’t need a college degree to be wildly successful.
And the digital age where we can accomplish almost anything online makes it possible to start a real business, one that can support your family and provide a quality service or product to people, with nothing more than an internet connection and a few dollars.
Yes, the origins of Labor Day are those of often-violent struggles, but today we really do have cause for celebration.
This year, make your celebration go deeper than the joy of the last dip in the pool, the last hot dog of summer, and the 50% off sale at Target.
Celebrate also that “labor” today doesn’t mean toiling away for someone else, unless that’s what you want to do.
There is a freedom in how you choose to “labor” that we (especially women) never could have imagined in 1890, and one that is certainly cause for celebration.
What Does Labor Day Mean for You?
Take a moment among the celebration of the day to reflect on what Labor Day means for you personally.
Are you taking full advantage of the freedom you have to do work that makes you happy?
“Work” is no longer a dirty word.
For millions of people it represents getting paid for doing something they love, and providing a valuable product or service in return.
We spend too much time working to be unhappy in what we do.
If the thought of “work” doesn’t make you smile, is it time to make a change?
Or maybe you’re a stay at home mom who would like or needs to make some extra money, or perhaps just wants another role outside of that of being mom.
Let your creative juices flow and start putting that dream of your own business into action.
And if you need help, guidance, or if the thought of starting your own business seems too overwhelming, have a chat with Kids Party Characters owner Cheryl Jacobs.
Cheryl is a long-time entrepreneur who started out as a broke mom who needed to feed her young children.
She can help you navigate the mountain of getting started.
Cheryl has created an opportunity with Kids Party Characters that cuts most of the hard work and uncertainty out of starting your first business.
With a membership in Kids Party Characters, you’ll get everything you need to start your own children’s entertainment business, including an exclusive territory in which to book parties, the right to use our 200+ costumes, and access to our casting director and acting coach.
You’ll also get business training and support from Cheryl and the Kids Party Characters team, which means no experience is necessary to get going.
If this might be the right opportunity for you to put fun back into your work, schedule a no-pressure chat with Cheryl right here and she’ll answer all your questions and help you get started.
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