Atlantic Ave Magazine September 2023

Labor Day is the unofficial end to the summer season.
Up north the leaves begin to turn, here – our
seasonal residents return, and the temperatures
cools a bit. Labor Day is always celebrated on the first
Monday of September. This year, Labor Day is September
4, 2023.
Why do we celebrate Labor Day?
The idea of Labor Day emerged in the late 19th century
out of the organized labor movements. In September
1882, unions in New York decided to throw themselves
a parade to celebrate unions as a concept and
the hard-working people comprising them.
Even though workers had to give up a day’s pay to
attend, more than 20,000 people showed up to the parade.
It was a celebration of historic proportions.
Soon, unions in other states started having September
parades, and within five years, several states declared
“Labor Day” official state holidays. In 1894, 12
years after the first labor parade in New York, President
Grover Cleveland signed an act establishing Labor
Day as a federal holiday on the first Monday of every
September.
How do we celebrate Labor Day now?
While some towns still have Labor Day parades similar
to the original Labor Day festivities of the 19th century,
the general focus of the holiday has shifted more
toward celebrating the end of summer. Cookouts and
pool parties are much more in favor now than marching
bands and union speeches. And Labor Day is usually
a busy time for travel.
Still, the original spirit of honoring the work force remains,
and Labor Day is a paid holiday for most American
workers. According to the U.S. Travel Association,
more than half of all working Americans don’t use all
of their paid vacation days. In a country that works so
much, having a day off is an ideal way to celebrate and
recharge for the fall. That, and amazing sales!
When do Labor Day sales start?
Another tradition of Labor Day in America is the
discounts! Labor Day is on Monday, September 5, but
Labor Day sales usually start the weekend before and,
in some cases, up to a week in advance. If you’re in the
market for something large like a kitchen appliance, a
washer/dryer, or a mattress, Labor Day is an excellent
time to go shopping because big ticket items often get
the most notable discounts around this time of year.
Can you wear white after Labor Day?
Wearing white after Labor Day has long been considered
a fashion faux pas. However, no one is certain
where the rule “you cannot wear white after Labor
Day” came from.
Some fashion historians say it was pure classist snobbery
— a social more set in place by the American nouveau
riche as a way to easily denote who was wealthy
and who wasn’t, because people with less money could
not afford seasonal clothes. Others say that not wearing
white after Labor Day simply came about because
Labor Day marked the end of summer and white was
traditionally thought of as summer-wear. As the weather
turned colder, people began to favor darker clothing,
like gray sweaters and dark navy suits.
Over time this trend became fashion tradition. Despite
what fashionistas might say, it’s not a hard and
fast rule. Fashion icon Coco Chanel wore white yearround,
so there’s no reason not to wear your favorite
white clothes anytime you please!
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www.AtlanticAveMagazine.com | september 2023 | 69