“The end of labor is to gain leisure.” Aristotle.

   إن الهدف من العمل هو الحصول على الراحة ” –  أرسطو “  

        Most countries of the world celebrated today the Labor Day عيد العمال which is an annual  celebration for workers everywhere. The day is a national holiday عطلة رسمية in most countries. It has so many names including the May Day and the International Workers’ Day. The day is commonly celebrated by organizing street demonstrations and marches by working people and their labor unions.

       The idea of the celebration dates back to 1869 when some American workers formed some kind of union called Labor Nights. The union aimed at improving wages الأجور and work conditions ظروف العمل . Then the American Labor Union Movement emerged and called for a nationwide strike إضراب on the first day of May 1886. The day came to witness huge number of worker strikes estimated by thousands. Workers in Chicago lifted up slogans شعارات that said, “Eight hours to work, Eight hours to rest and Eight hours to sleep.”  On the third of May, someone threw a bomb at the police forces that attacked the crowds fiercely and opened fire to disperse them. On the fourth day, bloody confrontations took place among the police and workers in which more that twelve people were killed. An unfair trial محاكمة followed and four labor leaders were hanged publicly. All those events inspired workers from around the globe and were a source of outrage غضب leading to commemorating the day. Similar strikes swept main cities and capitals in Europe and Asia. The U.S. Congress designated May 1 as  Loyalty Day يوم الوفاء  in 1958 and celebrated Labor Day on the first Monday in September.

      In Egypt the day is celebrated on May 1^st since the time of the 1952 Revolution. However, the Egyptian workers’ efforts and strikes can be traced back to the early 19^th century. They have made great efforts  in the construction of the Suez Canal and the High Dam and had a long history of struggle for better conditions.

The annual holiday is devoted to the recognition of working people’s contribution to the development of society. Here are some famous quotes that highlight the value of labor in our life and in promoting human civilization:

•  “God sells us all things at the price of labor.”  Leonardo da Vinci.
•  “Work isn’t to make money; you work to justify life.” Marc Chagall.
•  “Without labor nothing prospers.” Sophocles.
•  “A mind always employed is always happy.  This is the true secret, the grand recipe, for felicity.”  Thomas Jefferson.
• “God give me work, till my life shall end
  And life, till my work is done.” Epitaph of Winifred Holtby.
• “It is labor indeed that puts the difference on everything.” John Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, 1690.

The article is translated and adapted from wikipedia.

Labor Day Quotes from http://www.quotegarden.com/labor-day.html

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