#minersday

Miners’ Day

The men and women who spend every day digging in the earth are some of the greatest unsung heroes of industry and modern civilization. They dig deep into the darkest places in the world to bring out the riches that help to sustain our lifestyles. From the steel for our cars, to the copper wiring that binds together our digital world together, everything we think of as our modern lives and comforts exist on the back of these intrepid people.

History of Miners’ Day The history of mining reaches into prehistory, where resources such as flint were removed from the earth to produce the highest quality tools of the age. As time went on and more was understood about the nature of ores and how to process them, gold, turquoise, and malachite (the ore from which copper is derived) mines began to appear all over the world. Better technology allowed the development of new mining techniques, and more uses for existing and newly discovered resources. Even in these ancient days, the bronze and iron brought forth from the earth was used to plow the ground, fight wars, and build grand edifices that would stand the test of time.

Miners’ Day was established to celebrate and recognize those who take part in this dangerous profession, to help our lives be comfortable and full of conveniences. Thanks to the efforts of the president of the Miners’ Day Memorial Association of West Virginia (MDMAWV) Roy Lee Cooke, National Miners’ Day was established in 2009 by the passing of a resolution by the United States Senate.

How to Celebrate Miners’ Day The simplest way to celebrate Miners’ Day is just to take a look around you and realize how many of your life’s comforts are dependent on the minerals pulled out of the earth. That fancy phone you have, that luxury automobile, even the pots and pans you cook on and the stove, all thanks to the efforts of these men and women.

To get a bit more firsthand knowledge of where it all comes from and the dangers they face, find a local mine to go and visit. There are mines all over the world that pull a variety of minerals out of the earth, and visiting them can give you a true appreciation for what they do and how perilous it can be. Stop by and thank them for their efforts, maybe bring a tray of some decent coffee to keep ‘em going. Miners’ Day is your chance to truly appreciate all the things you have.

August 27, 2017: Happy Miner’s Day to the working people of Donbass and all militant mine workers worldwide!

December 4

National Cookie Day

National Dice Day

National Sock Day

Faux Fur Friday – First Friday in December

National Bartender Day – First Friday in December

Indian Navy Day is celebrated every year on December 4 to commemorate the attack on the Karachi harbour during the India-Pakistan war in 1971.

December 4 celebrated as international Miners Day

Around the world, many miners celebrate December 4 as Miners Day and commemorate their patron saint, St. Barbara, requesting her continuing protection for their daily work.

In Canada, the Legacy Project Barbara Celebration 2012 was held at the German Cultural Centre in Saskatoon, with all employees of German-based K+S Potash Canada invited, along with consultants and local service-providers. The organization hopes to establish the Barbara Celebration in Canada, importing some of the traditions and values of the European mining industry. This festive celebration is connected to the very beginning of potash mining in Germany. Photo of Legacy Project Barbara Celebration 2012 in Canada courtesy of K+S Potash.

Saint Barbara is the patron saint of artillerymen, armourers, military engineers, gunsmiths, miners and anyone else who worked with cannon and explosives, according to Wikipedia. She is invoked against thunder and lightning, all incidents arising from explosions of gunpowder, and venerated by Catholics who face the danger of sudden and violent death in work.

Mining traditions are strictly observed at European mining companies like KGHM International. Beer halls are organized by both the company and individual divisions, and include a traditional “jump over the leather apron” initiation rite. Other festivities include retirement ceremonies, employee anniversaries and awards, meetings with the mothers of miners, family trips to the mines, and many other social events. In Poland, Saint Barbara is associated mainly with mining, and pictures or sculptures of the saint can be found not only in mines, but also in miners’ homes and churches.

In the 18th century, the miners’ uniform was introduced in the mountainous regions of Germany and were used to distinguish the different categories of mining. Enacted into law in 1949, the ceremonial black uniform is designed with a variety of stylized decorations that harken back to earlier working clothes, in which the miner performed a specific function. For example, the brush used for cleaning blasting holes, which was attached to the hat by a band, became a decorative, symbolic feather on the uniform headpiece. The short cloak represents the cape miners used to protect themselves from water dripping from the roof. Special pockets on the chest and cuffs were used to hold the fuses and flints for blasting.