The Nexus of Labor Day and Rosh Hashanah

Often, when we think about culture, the socially learned and shared ideas, behaviors, and material components of a society, we focus on material culture, the physical artifacts that represent components of society. From this perspective, culture is often synonymous with the “stuff” people have in their lives, whether the clothing they wear or the technology they create. However, if we dig deeper, we find that nonmaterial culture, ideas and symbols that represent components of society, is equally as significant. Even though we cannot physically touch this aspect of culture, it shapes our lives, actions, and understanding of the larger world. Holidays are an example of both material and nonmaterial culture. The month of September opens with Labor Day and Rosh Hashanah, and as we will see, these very different holidays exemplify the role of culture in our lives.

In the United States, Labor Day is a day to celebrate workers. From a nonmaterial perspective, workers represent the society’s “can do” spirit. Broadly speaking, workers are supposed to be industrious, conscientious, and productive. They occupy an important rung on the ladder of the American Dream, a commonly held belief in the U.S. suggesting that anyone can overcome obstacles and get ahead in life through hard work and determination. Honoring these ideals speaks to the manifest function, intentional and formally sanctioned functions of social institutions and society, of Labor Day. However, in the 21^st century, Labor Day, like many secular holidays, is more about consumerism than its founders originally intended. From car sales to mattress discounts, Labor Day is now about business sales and material culture, resulting in the very workers we are supposed to be celebrating having to work on their day.

Rosh Hashanah marks the start of the Jewish New Year. It is a time of prayer, reflection, and feasting with family and friends. While Rosh Hashanah has a deep religious significance that clearly exemplifies nonmaterial culture, it also includes artifacts of material culture that can be physically touched. The shofar, an instrument made of a ram’s horn used during Rosh Hashanah services, is a type of material culture that has a great deal of nonmaterial significance. Similarly, the foods consumed as part of the celebration have sacred meanings that go well beyond simple nourishment. The traditional challah bread represents the cycle of life, and the honey that the bread is dipped into signifies hopes for the New Year. The symbolic meanings applied to these food items make them both material and nonmaterial culture simultaneously.

Culture is rarely about clear-cut divisions separating material from nonmaterial. Often, material and nonmaterial cultures are different sides of the same coin, each appearing to be independent of the other but stuck together nonetheless. In studying culture, it is important to look at both sides of the coin to get a better sense of its true value in the larger society.