So... I was working today, and we had an unusually high number of American guests checking out - I imagine it was for the long weekend. My manager told me to wish the guests a 'Happy Memorial Day', to which I told him I'd rather not, mainly because I feel a bit uncomfortable associating the meaning of Memorial Day with cheer or merriness or any sort of jolly emotion. It's the same for Remembrance Day in Canada... I understand it's meant as a way to say 'enjoy your day off', but why do people do this? What do you think of it?