Weekend getaway: Labor Day will have 25% of Americans on the road
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Labor Day weekend is often recognized as the 'Unofficial End of Summer" and this year nearly a quarter of all Americans are expected to travel. Unlike other holidays, 86% of those on the go will make the trip by car, so Friday as you leave or Monday as you head home it would be logical to expect traffic to be a little more congested than normal.
Monday, September 2 is Labor Day and marks the 'unofficial' end of summer. Kids are back in school, high school football and volleyball have began their seasons and many are looking for one last chance to 'get away' before settling into fall and preparing for winter.
In the beginning the Labor Day Holiday was anything but the unofficial end of summer. The Labor Movement was at full strength and a number of organizations, some above board and some a little more clandestine were competing for control of the movement.
There are a number of theories as to who should be credited for the origin of the holiday but most trace back to a General Assembly of the Knights of Labor in New York City in September of 1882. A number of public parades were held simultaneously to the clandestine Knights Assembly under the watchful eye of the Central Labor Union (CLU). It is estimated that more than 10,000 labor workers marched in these parades.
CLU Secretary Matthew Maguire is noted as being the first to propose a National Labor Day holiday to be held on the first Monday of September annually. Another theory credits Peter J. McGuire, Vice President of the American Federation of Labor for making the original proposal in the spring of 1882
Maguire's proposal called for a public parade to show the solidarity and strength of organized labor. McGuire noted the date would fall almost directly between the 4th of July and Thanksgiving.
Oregon was the first state to officially recognize the first Monday in September as Labor Day and subsequently 30 states in all ratified the holiday before the Federal government declared it a National Holiday in 1894.
Through the years the holiday transformed from a movement involving labor to a transition in peoples lives. Schools started scheduling their start dates in conjunction with the holiday. State Fairs in many states conclude over Labor Day weekend and the majority of Americans began a pattern of using their vacation time in conjunction with the Holiday. For these reasons Labor Day earned the title 'Unofficial end of Summer"
According to a number of public surveys Labor Day comes in at No. 3 on the list of Americas favorite holidays, behind Christmas and Memorial Day and ahead of Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July.
Looking through the numbers of the Labor Day Holiday you will find that an estimated 25% of the population will travel this weekend. Unlike many other holidays, Labor Day travelers will hit the road to reach their destination with 86% utilizing their vehicle and just 7% using air travel.
Most people in our area will stay in Montana over the weekend, camping, fishing, visiting family. Nationally the most popular destinations are New York, Orlando, Chicago and Los Angeles.
With such a significant amount of road traffic, Labor Day claims more than 420 lives in car accidents with nearly 48,000 being injured. Buckle up!
Many of those who don't travel will be along the sidelines of a high school or college football game or in a gym watching their local high school volleyball team with high school sports having their first weekend of competition. Many will use Monday as a day to rest and prepare for the upcoming school year, fall and winter.
For those who don't travel and even those who do, Monday will include a Barbecue with an estimated 133 Million (40.6%) Americans attending a cookout.
An average of 818 Hot Dogs will be eaten every second, 7 Billion, during Hot Dog Season from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Consumption then dramatically falls and Americans turn to pumpkin spice drinks (They actually contain no pumpkin spice). Starbucks reported sales of more than 100 Million Dollars in their first fall offering the latte.
Whatever you do this Labor Day weekend, enjoy it. Have fun, spend some time with family or prepare your self for whats coming... winter! The choice is yours, be safe.
