This is the last long weekend of the summer. The next time people breathe a sigh on a Friday and get ready to enjoy a three-day-weekend will be Thanksgiving. These three days give us that last opportunity for the long sit on the dock (if the weather cooperates), putting together a puzzle into the late night hours, sleeping in, relaxed cooking at the bar-b-q, or leisurely catching up with friends. It is a holiday weekend and these three days feel like a gift of time that spares us from our regular work schedule.
The very first chapters of the Bible speak of the importance of rest from duty. Even God, after 6 days of creating needed a break! The recognition of Sabbath time, or rest from labour, is peppered throughout the Bible. Jesus often got himself into trouble for working or healing on the Sabbath. He had several arguments with the powers-that-be as to what was appropriate for Sabbath activity but he too knew the importance of taking a break to have a rest, to pray and to meditate.
Labour Day weekend has its origins as an annual holiday to celebrate the achievements of workers. It was initiated by the labour union movement, specifically the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest. We have been marking it since the 1880’s. It was in 1872 when a strike by Toronto Typographical Union’s took place as they fought for a 58-hour work-week. The leaders of the strike were arrested as there were laws in place that made union activity against the law. These laws had already been abolished in Britain but were still on the books in Canada. Leaders of the Typographical union were arrested. In response to this Labour leaders decided to call for a demonstration. On September 3rd seven Unions marched in Ottawa. This resulted in the Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald, calling the anti-union laws ‘barbarous’ and promising to repeal them. The Trade Union Act was passed the following year and soon all unions were seeking a 54-hour work-week.
So enjoy your long weekend knowing that it is brought to us by workers who fought hard for the right to have a break from their labour.
