For many years, Labor Day has been seen simply as the final weekend of summer, signaling the end of vacations and cookouts and the start of school. But as Robert Longley, About.com's Guide to US Government Info, reminds us, there's a reason why Labor Day bears that name: It was meant as a celebration of American workers.
In Europe, such celebrations usually take place on May Day, May 1, but they have long been taken over by socialists and communists. In 1955, Pope Pius XII, a staunch anticommunist who was also critical of the excesses of capitalism, established the Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker on May 1 in an attempt to remind Catholics of the Christian dignity of labor.
As we cook our last hot dogs of the season or make the long drive home from our vacation, we might spare a few prayers to Saint Joseph the Worker, who in his typically quiet way provided Christians with the best example of labor in the service of God.
I was quite sure that U.S. celebrate Labor Day before the summer! Do you have a similar holiday at the end of June?
Thanks for the prayer. Have a nice holiday,
Umberta
Umberta,
I think you might be thinking of Memorial Day, which is at the end of May. In the U.S., it’s kind of the “first” day of summer and vacation activities. Pools and parks open for the first time — well, usually.
Then, there’s the Fourth of July, or Independence Day, at the beginning of July, so close to the end of June. But, we do not have a national holiday in June at all, that I know of. (And I’m sixty two years old, so I’ve been around for a while. LOL)
God bless,
Diana
Well, there’s Flag Day on June 14, but it’s no longer celebrated with much fanfare. But I suspect Diana is right, and Umberta is thinking of Memorial Day, which commemorates those who have died in service to their country.