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An editorial comment on public holidays, nearly 150 years ago.
Daily Gleaner, July 3, 1870
The anniversary of the Queen's Coronation by law a public holiday, was, on its recurrence this year, rendered, as far as circumstances would admit, a general holiday, at least in those parishes traversed by the Railway. This sudden and welcome relaxation from labour was brought about purely by accident, a fact which goes strongly to prove the necessity for applying in this country the principle of establishing a half-holiday system, now so generally contended for in England. The days which are by law proclaimed public holidays are Christmas, New Year's day, Good Friday, the Anniversaries of the Queen's nativity and Coronation, and of the Great Earthquake by which Port Royal was destroyed. These are holidays, however, only to those employed in the public service. Of the number, there are only two that are of universal observance; namely. Good Friday and Christmas. The former, being a solemn Fast, is removed from the category in the sense in which we now refer to holidays. Christmas is, therefore, the only day of universal enjoyment. The hard toilers for that daily bread, so fervently prayed for at dusk and dawn but which in an all-wise dispensation of events must, nevertheless, be earned by the sweat of the face, abandon themselves to merriment when Christmas comes; but when it passes off, it leaves them with the sad reflection that there will be again no respite from toil till a weary twelve month has rolled over, while many may be gathered to everlasting rest long ere it returns.
The 28th June, being by law a public holiday, all public servants were relieved from their day's duty, and even the Mechanics employed in the erection of the New Market found themselves admitted to the enjoyment of a privilege which is not accorded to those outside of the Government service, nay, not even to editors. The mechanics aforesaid, no less proud of the distinction accorded them than gratified at a day's spree without losing a day's pay, resolved upon making a holiday trip; and the courtesy of the proprietor of Cumberland Pen and the convenience of Railway communicatiou, enabled them to go upon a regular picnic excursion. This arrangement having been announced in the newspapers, the people at large eagerly seized the opportunity for enjoying a holiday; upwards of a score of other pic-nic parties were formed, and pleasure seekers not only from Kingston, Port Royal, and Spanish
Town, but also from Old Harbour, and districts much beyond Old Harbour resorted to Cumberland Pen. There were bands of music on the ground, and various amusements were improvised; in fact, people under such circumstances find amusement in the merest trifles; to many the mere change of place and scene being sufficient gratification. All classes of people were present, and there was a pretty general commingling of feeling which was brought about by the courteous and respectful bearing one towards another among those whom in speaking and writing about them, it is convenient and customary to refer to as "the mass." This looks as if the people are gradually advancing in civilization. No stronger proof is wanting than that they are out on a day's spree and there was no excess, no drunkenness, no fighting and indecency which generally accompany excessive imbibing of strong potations. More; they seem to vie with one another in paying attention to strangers, and did so in a manner to commend them to persons in circles somewhat elevated above their own. These are incidents which are worthy of record, especially as they go far to strengthen our advocacy of more frequent holidays.
Custom in Jamaica, especially among the middle class, has rendered life one unbroken period of toil - not that those referred to are especially fond of work, but rather from the fact that the middle class combine within themselves the largest share of poverty along with the largest share of intelligence; and poverty too frequently consents to the slavishness of business here when the will revolts. This slavishness which is equally among the employers as with the employed is founded on a great error - an error which presupposes that loss would be entailed if business were suspended for a day. There can be no individual loss if the practice were made general, and no general loss, but rather gain, by creating a stir among the various classes, inducing them to seek amusements which are sure to entail expense and consequently increase trade. The improvised holiday on Wednesday, we are sure, has entailed no loss to the general trade of Kingston, while doubtless a great many found in it a source of profit. But apart from the question of loss or gain, relaxation is necessary to those who toil, whether they be toilers by the head or toilers by the hand. It improves health, invigorates the body, expands the mind, and creates a wider capacity for the exercise of love and benevolence. Why may we not therefore have a holiday in this country besides Christmas-day? It requires no law for the purpose, but only the observance by all classes by general consent; and there is no more appropriate time than the 28th June; for, besides being by law a holiday to those in the public service, it occurs at a time which makes an equal break in the monotony which prevails till the recurrence of Christmas, and people could look forward to the half-yearly casting up of accounts and beyond that to the enjoyment of their half-yearly holiday. - Semi-weekly Gleaner.
