Monday 3 September 2012

Rustic (Labor Day) Weekend

Happy Labor day folks! What does this mean? First, it's officially the dregs of summer: The corn is high. The local kids are back at school. The American Football season starts. The weather is gray but warm and muggy.


Yesterday was a lazy Labor weekend Sunday for baking cookies and watching Newsies, which I thought was appropriate viewing for a holiday that honors unions and workers.
the lime is marking out my chili and lime cookies from Mark's oatmeal cookies
US President Grover Cleveland created this US federal holiday because he wanted to the gain support of unions and workers. May 1st (May Day/International workers' day) had begun to be associated with socialists and communists so this September weekend, the date of a big labor conference, was chosen instead. The move failed but the holiday stayed. Fittingly, it's the DNC Convention right now.

This isn't too unlike the September weekend holidays celebrated in cities across Scotland, although these tend to be later in the month. Compare these holidays to the annual UK May Day demos, where predictably a Starbucks or McDonald's ends up with a smashed-in window.

It's the last big weekend of the summer.

One thing I can't figure out for sure is whether I'm allowed to wear white after today or not. The Americans I asked say that's an old-fashioned thing and I can wear whatever I like. Can anyone else enlighten me on this?

Can I wear white after Labor day? How do you celebrate this weekend?

6 comments:

  1. It is an outdated trend from back when. So you can where what you want whenever you want now. Glad to stumble upon your blog from Better Blogger Network. How long have you been in the states? My Filipino hubby has been in America for 6 weeks now. How are you adjusting? Other than missing home/family, what's been the most unexpected thing about being here?

    http://shalunyaboyet.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi there, thanks for commenting! I've been in the US since June, and I'm just about adjusting. I hope your hubby is adjusting okay to - I imagine that's a bigger transition to make!

      The most unexpected thing has been my experience with getting the hang of driving over here. I'll be talking about it soon, once the car recovers...

      Delete
  2. wear whatever you want! white wool in winter is classy - and white linen is practical in the summer. it's all about context. so go for it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. good to hear my white angorra sweater won't go to waste! ;)

      Delete
  3. Found you on BBN! Newest follower on GFC and Pinterest! You're cookies look amazing and you outfit is fabulous! (BTW, your word verification is turned on and it took me forever to get this comment to post :( Love your blog though.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just saw this comment, thanks so much! Thanks also for the notice re word verification. I think I've turned it off now.

      Delete