Monday is a federal holiday in the United States,but Labor Day is much more than that.Labor Day has a rich history centeredaround workers. This year, it has particular meaning as hundreds of thousandsAmericans try to get back to work. The latest jobless rate numbers show that unemployment went up from 9.5 to 9.6 percentin August.
在美國，勞動節所在的那個周一是公共假日，不過它的含義遠不止于此，它見證了工人為自己權益奮斗的過程。今年的勞動節很特別，因為成千上萬的美國人會在那天工作。八月的最新失業數據表明失業率從9.5%上升到了9.6%。
1. Canadian Origin?
起源于加拿大?
While most Americans likely consider Labor Day a uniquely Americanexperience, but in all reality, Labor Day has its origins in Canada. Stemming from 1870’s labor disputes in Toronto, in 1872 a parade was held in support of a strikeagainst the 58 hour workweek. As a result, 24 union leaderswho were responsible for organizing the event were arrested under anti-union laws.
很多美國人會認為勞動節是美國的傳統節日，但實際上，勞動節起源于加拿大。19世紀70年代在多倫多有很多勞務糾紛，很多工人被迫長時間工作，1872年，不堪剝削的工人罷工游行，反對一周58小時的工作時間。結果，負責組織這次游行的24位帶頭人因違法反法律被抓。
2.Social Traditions
社會習俗
Labor Day festivities included "speeches, apicnic, an abundance of cigars... mounted in every conceivable place."
勞動節那天會有演講、野餐、足量雪茄……而且這些隨處可見，整個美國充滿了節日的氛圍。
3. America's 1st Labor Day
美國首個勞動節
The first Labor Day celebration in the United States can be traced toSept. 5, 1882. It was designed as a way to appease city workers after numerousstrikes and in some cases even violence.
美國的首個勞動節是在1882年的9月5號。當時，這個節日是在不計其數的罷工甚至是暴力活動后，作為撫恤身心俱疲的工人的一種措施。
4. Always On Monday
節日總是定在周一
Labor Day has been celebrated on the first Monday of September every yearsince President Grover Cleveland declared thatday Labor Day in 1894. The extended weekend helps Americans who choose totravel.
自從美國總統格羅弗•克利夫蘭在1984年宣布勞動節成立后，每年的勞動節都在9月第1個周一慶祝了。這樣周末就延長了一天，很多美國人可以借此機會去旅游放松。
5. Summer Farewell
夏季告別日
Originating as a celebration for the workingclass, Labor Day has also evolved into the unofficial end of thesummer season and for many school districts the beginning of the academic year again.
勞動節本來是工人階級的節日，不過現在逐漸變成夏季的收尾，也是很多學校拉開新學年序幕的一天。
對于暑期項目的同學們，Labor Day恐怕是同學們將要慶祝的最后一個美國本地節日了。