Monday, September 1, 2014

Labor Day Weekend - Summer Is Not Over Yet!

Labor Day Weekend is celebrated in the United States and Canada (spelled Labour Day there!) on the first Monday of September. It typically symbolizes the end of summer for most of us. My calendar, however, says the last day of summer is actually September 22nd. Many schools are back in session before Labor Day Weekend, and September can be a warm month with summer-like weather.  So why does Labor Day weekend seem to mark the end of summer?

According to timeanddate.com, in the United States: "Labor Day is annually held on the first Monday of September. It was originally organized to celebrate various labor associations' strengths of and contributions to the United States economy. It is largely a day of rest in modern times."

Labor Day is a United States federal holiday, which always falls on a Monday about the time school is back in session. Maybe we associate it with the end of summer because it is the last long weekend of the season.  The three-day holiday reminds us to enjoy the nice weather before it comes to an end. In many places of the United States, it will soon be cold and the snow will begin to fly.  Boats and fly rods will be replaced by ski lifts and mittens.


But seasons tend to blur in Montana, the state where I live.   This is a place where you can start a hike in hot weather - and then enjoy body-sliding/glissading down a snowy slope! Snow can be found here any time of year - but we have summer for only for a few short months!



Image: A photo of my son and some friends, during a June hike we took in Glacier National Park.
Does it feel like the end of summer today where you live?

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22 comments :

  1. It does feel like the end of summer here in southeastern Pennsyvania (Philadelphia) and "down the shore" in southern New Jersey. The marsh grass has a tinge of yellow and we had some fall feeling days this past week. Philly public schools start tomorrow.

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    1. I hope the Eastern US has a lovely long fall and a better winter than last year!

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  2. Actually, this is the first time this 'summer' that it has even felt like summer so I sure as heck hope it isn't the end.

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    1. Me too - I still have far too many green tomatoes (and haven't yet harvested enough red ones) for a hard frost to occur any time soon!

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  3. i never knew all that about labour day

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    1. Glad that you found something to learn here then! :)

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  4. We had to light our wood stove today as our house (in northern BC) is so cold! The other morning it was only a degree or two above freezing. Probably should have used the stove before now, but it just doesn't seem right to need it in August!

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  5. September is typically one of our more "summery" months in Western Washington. We usually have warm weather until the end of the month, and plenty of sunshine. It's supposed to be 80 next weekend! There is a little chill to the air in the morning though. I love September!

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    1. September is usually nice in Montana as well - fingers crossed!

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  6. We are trotting into Spring here. Quite rapidly. She will flirt with us, and let winter back in a few more times before she settles down though.
    And I am not looking forward to Summer. When we are in melt-down mode I will admire all the photos of winter people are posting on the other side of the world.

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    1. Spring arrives much as you describe it here as well. I am sad to see the end of summer though- perhaps we should trade hemispheres 6 months of the year!

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  7. Still hotter than heck here in Texas...doesn't feel like the end. That snow looks refreshing!

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    1. I'd be happy if hot weather would last at least another month here - our winters are too long!

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  8. Well today still felt like summer but here in SC our summer lasts for about 6 months. It will stay hot right up until about the end of October sometimes longer. Thanksgiving before last we ate outside because it was 80 degrees. In the 3 years aI have lived here we got one snow a total of 5 inches. They shut EVERYTHING down (even Walmart) and called in the National Guard. Being from KY it was su funny to hear and watch the panic!

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    1. In 13 years of school here, my children have never once had a snow day. We expect it to be cold and snowy - and just keep going! It all depends on where you live I guess - and what percentage of people have snow tires - and the sort of snow removal equipment that is available!

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    2. Definitely! Back home in KY we still went although they do have snow days there but not like here. I delivered mail there for years and there was only one time we couldn't get out and that was a huge ice storm that was just incredible. We had no electric for 8 days but after that first day we were back to carrying the mail tag-teaming trying to get it all out. We had no electric but we used miner's hats with flashlights in the office and we all had our 4 wheel drive, with studded tires and each did a half of the route. It was a nightmare for about a week. I can't imagine if that would happen here!

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    3. Sounds like it was a challenging experience at the time, but what an amazing story you now how to tell, Rena!

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  9. The thermometer still says summer here, but mentally I move on to fall after Labor Day. Love this time of year!

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    1. Our nights are definitely cooling down - but I am hopeful for a lot more warm days this fall!

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  10. The furnace came on this morning. Welcome to the next season in Canada! :)

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    1. No use of our furnace yet here - but I have been waking up with the covers pulled up to my chin!

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