Posts Tagged ‘labor day’

The words national holiday or vacation may not have the same meaning in different countries. Some holidays are are celebrated around the world. Children usually love to learn about various cultures and festive events celebrated worldwide while adults love relaxing and also shopping. People often go on a vacation during specific holiday observances, or for specific festivals or celebrations. Some people go shopping while some stay home and spend time with their friends or family. A person may take a longer break from work, such as a sabbatical, gap year, or career break. While it is fun to take a vacation, learning about the history of each holiday makes the occasion much more meaningful.

Different holidays are celebrated on each continent. A national holiday can refer to official or unofficial observances of religious, national, or cultural purposes, often accompanied by celebrations or festivities. It implies a general leave of absence from a regular occupation for rest or recreation.

Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed in September. The holiday started in the year 1882 as the Central Labor Union of New York City sought to create “a day off for the working citizens.” Congress made Labor Day a federal holiday on June 28, 1894, two months after the May Day Riots of 1894. May 4 was chosen to remember the Haymarket Affair. All 50 U.S. states have made Labor Day an official state holiday.

Thanksgiving Day is a harvest festival. Traditionally, it is a time to give thanks for the harvest and express gratitude in general. It is a holiday celebrated primarily in Canada and the United States. While perhaps religious in origin, Thanksgiving is now primarily identified as a secular holiday. Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the U.S. and on the second Monday of October in Canada. Family members and friends gather on this day to have a big feast, the Thanksgiving dinner.

Perhaps the most famous national holiday in a large number of countries is Christmas. Christmas is celebrated throughout the Christian population, but it is also celebrated by many non-Christians as a secular, cultural festival. Because gift-giving and several other aspects of the holiday involve heightened economic activity among both Christians and non-Christians, Christmas has become a major event for retailers worldwide.