Labor Day in the United States and Canada

导读：很多国家的劳动节是5月1日，但美国与加拿大的劳动节却在9月的第一个星期一。

labor day is held on the first Monday of September. It was organized to celebrate labor associations’ contributions to the united states economy. It is largely a day of rest in modern times. Many people mark Labor Day as the end of the summer season and a last chance to make trips or hold outdoor events. For students， it is the last chance to organize parties before school starts again. In some neighborhoods， people organize fireworks displays， barbecues and public arts or sports events. The football season starts on or around Labor Day and many teams play their first game of the year during Labor Day weekend. May 1 is Lei Day in Hawaii， where celebrations include lei-making competitions， concerts， as well as giving and receiving leis to friends and family.

The first Labor Day was held in 1882. The Central Labor Union wanted to create a holiday for workers. It became a national holiday in 1894. It was originally intended that the day would be filled with a street parade to allow the public to appreciate the work of the labor organizations. After the parade， a festival was to be held to amuse local workers and their families. In later years， prominent men and women held speeches. This is less common now， but is sometimes seen in election years. One of the reasons for choosing to celebrate this on the first Monday in September was to add a holiday in the long gap between Independence Day and Thanksgiving.

Labor Day in canada is also celebrated on the first Monday of September. It originally gave workers the chance to fight for better working conditions or pay. The day is now part of a long weekend for many Canadians. It’s an opportunity to take a late summer trip， or enjoy the company of family or friends at picnics or other activities. For teenagers and other students， the Labor Day weekend is the last chance to celebrate with a party or to go on a trip before school reopens.

Canadian football fans may spend a lot of time watching the Labor Day Classic matches live or on television. The Labor Day Classic consists of three games between high ranking teams in the Canadian Football League. One match is played on the Sunday before Labor Day and two on Labor Day.

The origins of Labor Day in Canada can be traced back to April 15， 1872， when the Toronto Trades Assembly organized Canada’s first significant march for worker’s rights. The aim of the march was to release the 24 leaders of the Toronto Typographical Union who were imprisoned for fighting for a nine-hour working day.

Vocabulary

Lei Day n. （夏威夷）花环节

parade n. 庆典游行

amuse v. 娱乐

prominent adj. 杰出的

election n. 选举

ranking n. 排名

imprison v. 监禁

（What other holidays are there in September in the United States and Canada？）

Iris 改编