Labor Day is celebrated every year on the first Monday of September. This year, that day falls on September 7. To most Americans, Labor Day is synonymous with the end of summer activities. It often involves the last trip to the ocean for the year, a special weekend family trip, or gathering with friends, family members, and neighbors for a backyard barbecue, potluck, and outdoor activities. Along the Mid-Atlantic seaboard, it’s a chance to enjoy the freshest, most delicious seafood as an end-of-summer treat.
At Boyd’s Flowers, we believe that flowers are an important part of any holiday meal, regardless of how casual it is. Admittedly, Labor Day is an occasion for casual dining and enjoying nature.
While we celebrate Labor Day as the unofficial end of summer, many Americans may not realize that the origins of this holiday date back to the labor movement of the late 19th century. According to the United States Department of Labor, there are conflicting records regarding which of the two men who supposedly came up with the idea for a Labor Day holiday, really deserves the credit.
Some records suggest that Peter McGuire, the co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, and the secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners was the first person to suggest that there be a holiday to honor all of the workers whose efforts contribute to the greatness of the country.
Recent research, however, suggests that Matthew McGuire, a machinist from New Jersey came up with the idea. Matthew McGuire later became the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists – the Machinists Union – in Patterson, New Jersey. At some point, he became the secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York, and the most recent research seems to suggest that he came up with the idea while he held that position.
We think that a Labor Day floral arrangement should embody everything we love about beautiful summer flowers and the way they appear in a natural habitat. Our arrangement called “The Art of Nature” does an amazing job of capturing the feeling of flowers growing in nature. The vegetative design style refers to the way the flowers are placed, and the fact that some are higher.
