An Awkward Holy Day
You can learn a lot about a civilization and its values by the official holidays it celebrates. Most are religious in nature (obviously, “holy” + “day” = “holiday”) and commemorate a special event important to that religion. Others mark special occurrences in nature like solstices or changes in the seasons. Many are more political, celebrating a nation’s independence from a colonial authority or the sacrifices made by warriors or other great leaders for the defense or advancement of the state. From all of these you can tell what’s important to any given culture. Religious ideals, connection to nature, collective identity and aspiration. You can tell what is special to that culture, what is set apart, what is holy to them.
What are the American Holy Days?
Here is a list of the official U.S. Federal Holidays:
- New Year’s Day – Seasonal: New Year
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – Political: Great Man
- George Washington’s Birthday (President’s Day) – Political: Great Man
- Memorial Day – Political: Great Men/Women
- Independence Day – Political: Sovereignty
- Labor Day – What is this??
- Columbus Day – Political: “Great Man” (we can have this debate later)
- Veterans Day – Political: Great Men/Women
- Thanksgiving Day – Seasonal/Political: Harvest/First Settlers
- Christmas Day – Seasonal/Religious: Mid-Winter/GREATEST Man
What do these holidays say about how our society officially identifies itself and what it aspires to? Well, it would seem like America is a nation with a Judeo-Christian undercurrent that values Independence, Liberty, Exploration, and the sacrifices made by those in pursuit and defense thereof. These ideals and those who embody them are set apart, holy, to us. These are all pretty self-evident within each holiday, and most nations and regimes have comparable days celebrating their great leaders or remarkable events. The point is to instill a sense of national pride or unity around something SPECIAL.
But there’s that one holiday in the middle there that isn’t quite so clear. It’s a weird holiday that most Americans (myself included) don’t really know what to do with. I mean, I’m not complaining; I’ll take any 3-day weekend you want to give me. But that’s usually all we ever think about with this one.
Why, though? Why are all of the other days the subject of children’s plays and crafts and special decor while this one just kind of sits in the corner? It’s like the kid you had to invite to the party because it was the right thing to do, but you don’t really know him and he’s not that exciting. Labor Day seems a lot like the socio-national equivalent of just checking the box.
But after reading and thinking about it, that’s kind of what makes it so fascinating!
What’s so SPECIAL about LABOR?
Nothing! It’s inherently common! Only a special few people found nation-states or fight to defend their country or the rights of others. In contrast, almost everyone in the world has to work just to survive. Work is basic. Work is ordinary. Work is boring.
Plus, not even the holiday is special! In fact, most countries in the world celebrate some form of it! AND, most of those countries celebrate a version called International Workers Day (May 1st or May Day) that’s rooted in Socialist/Communist ideology! How on EARTH did Labor Day become a Capitalist American Holy Day??
Well THAT is a fascinating story, and one that truthfully is just as much a part of the American journey as the landing at Plymouth Rock or the signing of the Declaration.
Over the next week, we’ll walk through that story together. I confess, I was thinking this was going to be a quick short post about some minor, quasi-obscure holiday. But as I started reading about it, I learned that it’s FULL of history and meaning for our lives today as Americans and human beings. I’ve found myself captivated by its origins, its nuance, and its place in modern society. It’s a story that deserves so much more attention than we give it. And just like that weird kid at your party, if you take a minute to get to know it, you’ll find a depth you never knew was there.
Click here for Part II of this series!
