Chasing Down The Muse: There’s a lot of meaning in Labor Day tradition

The official countdown to the “end” of summer has begun. Labor Day is just around the corner, and in Laguna, that formerly marks the end of vacations — at least for students and teachers. Classes resume at Laguna Beach schools, meaning that beaches — and the surf — will be less crowded during the day. Driving downtown at any hour (except 3 to 5:30 p.m.) should no longer be a wrestling match.

School buses will again slow traffic with their start/stop red sign loadups. Wendt Terrace and Park Avenue will resume their role as vehicular passageways for parents who feel the need to drive their children to school. The high school band will strike up its practice every afternoon, and the football field will actually host Friday night games.

Go Laguna Beach High School Breakers (or Artists)!

Labor Day was first celebrated Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City. Who actually proposed the holiday remains in contention, but, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union, the second Labor Day holiday was celebrated a year later, on Sept. 5, 1883.

In 1884, the first Monday in September was selected as “the” holiday, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a “workingmen’s holiday” on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885, Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.

Early celebrations were marked with street parades to exhibit to the public “the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations.” This was followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families.

For the most part, parades have lost their favor, but speeches around the country will again garner coverage from the press and media. Community leaders will take the opportunity to praise the backbone of our nation’s strength and self-determination — the American worker.

Around town, restaurants and bars will offer special meals and happy hours. The Laguna Beach Exchange Club will host its annual Labor Day Pancake Breakfast at Heisler Park from 7 to 10:30 a.m. Cost is $5 and who could ask for a more beautiful spot to eat breakfast? Our local firefighters will be on hand to help flip the jacks. Food is being donated by Las Brisas and the White House, and proceeds will go toward helping the families of the firefighters who lost their lives in the Los Angeles fires of last week.

And of course, there are the end of season Labor Day parties — some wild, some wacky — for this turning point weekend. I can already catch a whiff of the barbecued burgers and hot dogs, maybe roasting marshmallows and, for sure, potato salad. It’s the grounding in traditions that carries our memories one year to the next, and fatten the present moment with the creation of new ones.

Buster (my dog) and I have been hanging out in the back yard, counting the days until the end of the canine summer sentence. We’ve a few more after Labor Day to make the cut — the official Sept. 15 end of the dog ban from our local beaches.

Patience, I keep whispering. We are both ready for a midday walk and swim without the constraints of the early morning/late evening summer curfew.

With the promise of afternoon sunshine, I plan to grab my cooler, umbrella, towel and good book and head to the beach. I’ll breathe in that deep Pacific air, bask in the negative ions, and begin my goodbyes to a wonderful Laguna summer.

CATHARINE COOPER designs, writes and wonders. She can be reached at ccooper@cooperdesign.net