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Weekly Bulletin September 4, 2022

by Terrie Evans

Labor Day is an annual holiday to celebrate the social and economic contributions of the prosperity of our country. This holiday was started from workers conditions during the 19^th century at a time when trade unions and labor movements were growing.  As more complaints of low pay and no laws to protect the men and women who toiled in factories, a proposal was made for a day to be set aside to celebrate labor.  To call attention to this day, a parade was organized by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor in New York City. At that parade, 10, 000 striking workers banded together for better working conditions and the start of labor unions.  A parade was also held on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D. C. to bring attention to the plight of workers.    

Oregon became the first state in the U. S. to make it an official public holiday until President Grover Cleveland made Labor Day a legal holiday in June 1894.  Because it was a Federal Law, it was only a Holiday for Federal workers.  Before it became an official holiday in 1894, thirty states were already on board with putting this day aside to honor all those laborers.  All U. S. states, the District of Columbia, and all territories of the United States went on to make Labor Day a holiday that is midway between the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving on the calendar.  Canada also celebrates their “Labour” Day on the 1^st Monday of September.   Even though many regulations were put into law for the workforce, it wasn’t until 1940 that the 8-hour workday became a Federal Law in the U. S.

Labor Day is considered the unofficial end of summer with the start of fall activities such as school and sports.  In some states such as Minnesota, Public School’s don’t begin until after Labor Day under state law to allow all the states school children to show their 4-H projects at the Minnesota State Fair that concludes on Labor Day.  The Labor Day Concert at the U.S. Capital is held every year in Washington and in Cincinnati, everyone looks forward to the Western and Southern Fireworks Display that draws many delighted families.   

Monday, September 5^th is a day set aside as the International day of Charity declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 to raise awareness of public support for charity.  The date was chosen to commemorate the anniversary of the passing of Mother Teresa of Calcutta who worked tirelessly to overcome and poverty.  In 1979, Mother Teresa received the Nobel Peace Prize “for work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also constitute a threat to peace”.   In 2012, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution for the International Day of Charity on September 5^th that was co-sponsored by 44 UN member states to encourage charity through education and public awareness-raising activities. 

Some of the 1^st events were in 2013 when the Republic of Albania organized a Mass with a donation for the 1st International day of Charity and a Mother Teresa Statue unveiled in Budapest from a donation from the Ambassador of Republic of Albania.  By 2014, the IDC held events and fund raisers taking place around the world ranging from restaurants donating profits to Ice Bucket challenges.   Please find a Charity that promotes a cause you are interested in or think about volunteering at a school, hospital, or library.