[Xmca-l] Re: Polls are setting to close on article for discussion

[Andy Blunden]

In Melbourne, "Labour Day" was always the first Monday in March, and 
commemorated the struggle for the 8 Hour Day, which was the project 
which led to the formation of the united union movement in Australian 
("Trades Hall Council"). When I came back to Australia in 1986, after a 
20 year absence, my first day of work turned out to be Labour Day, so I 
didn't go in. I didn't realise that the Universties do not recognise 
Labour Day; it was after all a strike by masons working on Melbourne 
University which initiated the worldwide 8-hour Movement! But the real 
coup was the decision of the Victorian Government to declare a holiday 
called "Moomba" (which is supposed to be an aboriginal word for having 
fun) which celebrates absolutely nothing except commericalism and the 
lack of culture of the Australian settler nation, and set the date for 
the first Tuesday in March! I remember that day seeing the last effort 
to celebrate Labour Day by a tiny contingent of men with banners walking 
down the grass reserve in Victoria Parade.
The consolation is that May Day is going as strong as ever, celebrated 
twice in Melbourne: once on 1 May, and then again on the first Sunday in 
May (so workers can march without having to go on strike!).
Recall that the celebration of national days, etc., is one of the 
techniques used in the education of deaf-blind kids described in 
Meshcheryakov's book. Also I recall that in Bede's History of England, 
it seems that the key point in converting the native English to 
Christianity and incorporating the British Isles into the Roman Empire, 
was the celebration of all the former pagan holidays according to the 
Roman calendar. Symbolims is powerful.

Andy
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*Andy Blunden*
http://home.mira.net/~andy/