National Tradesmen Day
Give a big thanks and some thought and appreciation to the backbone of our society: tradesmen like carpenters, auto mechanics, bricklayers and much more.
You know, when you choose to make your living as an actor, it’s all fine and good to look at it as some kind of artistic endeavour. At its best, it is that. But the fact is, most of the actors out there don’t earn $3 million a picture and can’t afford to take two years off between films and look for the right thing. Most of us are tradesmen.
James Spader
Remember the famous photo of the builders who sat on the crane poles eating lunch while building the Empire State building? Those delightful guys just taking a break from their normal duties of life were tradesmen.
Tradesmen build our homes, they pave our roads, they construct buildings for our businesses and schools. Although they are often overlooked, many people should realize that they are the backbone of every nation because they are doing the jobs that keep the world running and life moving. Without them, where would humans be? In fact, they do many of the jobs that no one else wants to do!
That’s why there is a day dedicated to Tradesmen and their hard work. The day often includes recognition events, celebrations, and activities that identify and honor the hard work that they do.
It’s time for enjoying National Tradesmen Day!
History of National Tradesmen Day
Irwin Tools, a world-class manufacturer of a broad line of professional hand tools and power tool accessories, founded this very important day in 2011. The intention and hope of the day were to honor the men and women who work hard to keep the United States running, often working in the background without a lot of accolades or gratitude.
The Irwin Tools company has been known to host nominations for those who have made an impact in their community. Since this holiday is mainly about recognition, it stands to reason that many local towns that support their tradesmen are more likely to give out awards to those who worked to sustain their communities.
Essentially, tradesmen are the start of great stories! Many actors, musicians, and artists tend to start off in these areas of work because of the availability of jobs in the marketplace. A whole lot of famous people, including politicians, doctors, lawyers, ambassadors, and the like got their start as young people with a hammer or some other tool in their hands.
However, these days people tend to look at the person’s work in the biggest moments of their life, instead of looking back on their previous jobs and seeing the efforts they’ve done there as an accomplishment in itself.
Whether they install drywall, fix plumbing, lay bricks, work with electrical wiring, build furniture, fix cars, remodel kitchens, install carpets or any other important tasks, it’s time to honor tradesmen (and tradeswomen!) on this special day.
How to Celebrate National Tradesmen Day
National Tradesmen Day is a great time to let those folks who keep the world running that they are appreciated.
Learn About Famous Former Tradesmen
This is the perfect day to set aside a little time to learn about some famous people who got their start in the world by working with their hands. Take a look at these people, for starters:
- Harrison Ford was a Carpenter. A carpenter by trade, this actor who portrayed Indiana Jones, needed to make a living and feed his family so he remodeled houses and built furniture. But when George Lucas offered him the role of Han Solo in Star Wars? Well, obviously he couldn’t turn it down.
- Winston Churchill was a Bricklayer. One of the most famous British Prime Ministers of all time, Churchill was a member of the Amalgamated Union of Bricklayers. In his spare time, he still built small creations, such as a garden wall, goldfish pond, and swimming pool.
- Whoopi Goldberg was a Builder. Under her given name Caryn Elaine Johnson, this now famous actress, comedian and personality was apparently building walls at the San Diego Zoo before she got her big break.
- Elvis Presley was an Electrician’s Apprentice. Sure, a lot of people know that this crooner was in the Army, but many people don’t know he also worked as an apprentice for an electrician for a time. Music was just something Elvis did in his spare time. Perhaps the guy he worked for appreciated hearing him sing while he worked?
Thank a Tradesman
Learn a little bit about tradespeople by talking with someone you know and learn more about their industry. And don’t forget to tell them how much they are appreciated. On social media, tag a friend or family member who works in the industry and thank them for their services.
Visiting a job site or a hardware store with a box of donuts is sure to be appreciated by a variety of tradesmen. Stop by the kids’ school to thank the maintenance man for the way he serves the students and staff. Say “thanks” to the maintenance person in your apartment building or office building. And don’t forget about the auto mechanic! It might even be fun to create little trophies for them to thank them for the hard work they’ve done. Or create cards, make them dinner, buy them a cup of coffee or host a party to give them a chance to have a little fun. Basically, do anything that says “thank you” and they will definitely appreciate your kindness.
