LABOR DAY FUN

• The first Labor Day observance was believed to have been a parade in New York City on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, organized by the Central Labor Union. 10,000 workers marched in the parade up Broadway.

• By 1893 more than half of the states were observing Labor Day and a bill to establish Labor Day as a federal holiday was introduced in Congress.

• On June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed into law an act making the first Monday of September Labor Day, a federal holiday.

• Canada also celebrates Labor Day on the first Monday in September.

• In most other countries, Labor Day is celebrated on May 1st.

• Labor Day is the third most popular holiday weekend for barbecuing, after July 4th and Memorial Day. 55 percent of Americans are expected to fire up their grills.

• The most popular foods for barbecuing are, in order: hamburgers, steak, hot dogs and chicken breasts.

• Labor Day is the official end to hot dog season. According to the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council, hot dog season begins on Memorial Day and ends on Labor Day.

• More than 7 billion hot dogs are eaten by Americans between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

• The first Waffle House opened on Labor Day. In 1955, in Avondale Estates, Georgia, the very first Waffle House opened its doors to the public.

• Traditionally, it has been unacceptable to wear white after Labor Day, though today's fashion rules seem to changing.

• According to highway accident stats, Labor Day weekend is the most dangerous weekend to travel on U.S. highways. The reason? Lots of teens and young adults see it as the last weekend to party before heading back to school.

• 99.44 percent of the time, the NFL plays its first official season game the Thursday after Labor Day.

LABOR DAY: Weird Meats For Grilling

Labor Day weekend is upon us, and many families will be heading to the back yard, the park or the beach to party -- and grill out.

And, while hot dogs and hamburgers are popular choices for the -- they're not the ONLY choices. If you're feeling adventurous, you can throw almost anything on those hot coals, including the meat of exotic animals.

Here's a rundown of some crazy meats that you can actually have shipped to your door:

• Camel
• Zebra
• Crocodile
• Impala
• Buffalo
• Rattlesnake
• Kangaroo
• Ostrich
• Python
• Wildebeest

Check It Out: Alternative meat retailer Osgrow.com

BURNING QUESTION: Is Labor Day Weekend A Time To Relax Or Have A Blast?

There seem to be two types of people in the world: 

1. Those who try to make the most of their time off by packing in as much activity as possible
2. Those who try to relax as much as possible during their time off.

Ideally, you and your partner would be wired the same way. Relaxers would be with other relaxers. Active types would be with other active types. 

But, that's not always the case is it?

• Do you try to pack it all in when you have time off? Or ... Do you try to relax?

• Do you and your significant other have different opinions about how to spend time off? Who wants to relax and who wants to whoop it up? How much trouble has it caused in the past? How do you compromise?

LABOR DAY TRAVEL TIPS

According to AAA, there will be approximately 34.4 million people traveling by car over Labor Day weekend. If you are preparing to brave the traffic, here are some helpful tips to get you to your destination with minimal stress.

• Plan your route and departure times. You can avoid predictable traffic delays if you consider driving after 8 p.m. or before dawn when less people are on the road. Pack pillows and blankets and let the kiddies nap the drive away.

• Pack for passengers' entertainment. This is especially important if you are traveling with children. Fun travel games and a portable DVD player will help keep kids entertained. Road trip mixes and audio books can appeal to all age groups as well.

• Prepare for the worst. Always be prepared for a flat tire, car accident or dead cell phone. Be sure to let family or friends know your itinerary including the exact route and arrival times.

• Bring road friendly foods. Instead of wasting time stopping to eat unhealthy foods and spending unnecessary money, bring healthy, easy to eat snacks that won't spoil during hours of driving.

• Dress comfortably.

Source: Yahoo Shine