Tom Guarriello argues Labor Day has become America's saddest holiday. Once meant to honor workers, it's now branded as the last day of summer and a signal to go back to school, wrapped in gloomy weather and melancholy.
Oje, it's Tom Guarriello. Today's Labor Day here in America, and it's really gloomy outside here in lovely New Jersey. And, you know, being a gloomy day, it really made me think about the reality that Labor Day is now the saddest American holiday. Think about it. Like, if you go down the list of holidays, here's the list of holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Now, of those holidays, think about what people associate with Labor Day. What a bad branding job Labor Day has gotten. Um, Labor Day, last day of summer. Oh, Labor Day, if you're not already in school, Labor Day you're going back to school. Most kids don't go, ooh, back to school. Now parents, they might be not so disappointed about Labor Day being back to school, but there's this melancholy about Labor Day, the end of summer. Fall is coming. Even if you like fall, it's the end of summer, the vacation season, the time when you can be outside a lot. You're getting ready now to think about, as they say, winter is coming, right, on that show. So Labor Day, I know it It is celebrating an important phase in American industrial history and the need to— it demonstrates solidarity of workers who have built the country. But Labor Day, the saddest American holiday. You agree or don't agree? Let me know. I'll see you out there.
