Today is a holiday in Canada and the United States: Labor Day. The day is set as ide as a tribute to organized labor. Call it the North American equivalent of May 1.

That May 1 holiday, known as International Workers Day is a much bigger thing in Europe. North Americans give very little though to workers on the day celebrating them. It is almost harvest time, and for most children the new school year begins the following day.

Labor Day is the last chance to celebrate summer, a long weekend to get together with family and friends. It is about barbecues, pool parties, food, drink, and in Canada professional football.

Our football season starts and ends a couple of months earlier than its American counterpart. It’s a weather thing. It is cold enough to be playing outdoors in November, I doubt you could find many players willing to do so in January.

This weekend features some of the biggest traditional rivalries in Canadian football: Toronto and Hamilton, Edmonton and Calgary, Saskatchewan and Winnipeg. The games are sold out. The crowds are raucous.

Saturday and Sunday night games have passed, but there are two more on the agenda for today. For the fan wanting to catch the action on television there is the understanding that there is a sacrifice to be made. You can watch teh game, or you can enjoy the weather, but not both.

Except I suppose, with technology now you can. You can watch the game anywhere you can take your phone, as long as you don’t mind a small screen. I guess there are days when technology does have its advantages.

On this labor day I will celebrate organized labor. After all, football players are unionized. Though I don’t think that is the type of laborer those behind the holiday envisaged.

Feel free to celebrate in your own way.