# Happy Labor Day! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 1, 2003, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-labor-day/172340 "2003-05-01T10:26:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-labor-day/172340/1 "2003-05-01T10:26:19Z")
Possibly the most arguable holiday of all, but nonetheless a day that should be commemorated because of the achievements of the labor movement. And it’s a spare day, which is the best thing about it. Anyway, happy May 1 together. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-labor-day/172340/2 "2003-05-01T10:28:25Z")
Well, it’s a regular working day in Holland, so we seem to be the only ones taking the term “Labour Day” to heart. 🙂 In fairness, that’s just because April 30 is Queen’s Day, and the bitch won’t let us have 2 days off in a row. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Zorro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ad7895/32.png) [@Zorro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zorro)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-labor-day/172340/3 "2003-05-01T10:36:29Z")
We’re working here in the UK because it isn’t a civilised country like France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Mexico, etc. Fascists. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-labor-day/172340/4 "2003-05-01T10:45:33Z")
Aha! SO **Labor Day** is basically **mayday** - I never knew when it was. Another sliver of ignorance dispelled. 🙂 It’s Election Day here also - so perahps a couple of drinks while watching the results come in might be in order. Have a good one, everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-labor-day/172340/5 "2003-05-01T11:00:25Z")
No holiday here, either. Usually have public marches, though. We wait for our Labour Day on the last Monday in October, in honour of the 40-hour week and some 19th century carpenter in Wellington telling his employer he wasn’t going to work beyond that limit. ---
**Author:** ![phraser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a88e4f/32.png) [@phraser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phraser)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-labor-day/172340/6 "2003-05-01T12:08:50Z")
We celebrate Labour Day in Australia on the first Monday in May (so we can have a long weekend 😉 ), so it’s on the 5th of May here. I’ll certainly be marching in the parade with the Student Union. Solidarity and Billy Bragg songs! _grins_ ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-labor-day/172340/7 "2003-05-01T12:12:45Z")
Yesterday I lamented wearing my read shirt. I could have worn it today in honour of the day. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-labor-day/172340/8 "2003-05-01T12:42:57Z")
Ahem. The **real** significance of May 1st: Hooray, hooray It’s the first of May Outdoor f\*\*king Begins today! And if you follow that advice, then February 1st (or thereabouts) may then become labor day … ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-labor-day/172340/9 "2003-05-01T12:54:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* > **Yesterday I lamented wearing my read shirt.** Is that the one with the built-in glasses? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-labor-day/172340/10 "2003-05-01T12:56:37Z")
:smack: _Red_ shirt! _RED!_ (Hey, it was 05:12 and I hadn’t had any coffee.) ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-labor-day/172340/11 "2003-05-01T13:10:59Z")
I though **Johnny L.A.** was referring to John **Reed** , author of _Ten Days that Shook the World_. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-labor-day/172340/12 "2003-05-01T13:14:08Z")
Not before coffee.