Americans: how will you celebrate the 4th of July?

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gracepoole

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It’s going to be sweltering here tomorrow and one of the kids has a 103-degree temp, so our usual plans had to be modified. But we’re still having a BBQ in the backyard, lighting fireworks (the first year we’ve been able to do so legally since moving here 15 years ago!), and watching our yearly fare: Yankee Doodle Dandy, 1776, and The Music Man. This is my favorite secular holiday.

What if anything will you be doing to celebrate?
 
I’m thinking about taking advantage of the day off to go to Confession and Mass. I’ll definitely be taking advantage of the day off to study for an upcoming interview.

For fireworks, I’m thinking of just running down to the park. There’s probably more impressive shows in the area, but I live close enough to one that it’ll keep me up no matter what. Might as well watch it and making it home in time to get a good night’s rest.
 
Yes, I’ll be going to Mass this morning too, and praying for both our nation and the world.

I’ll make sure the cat is safely indoors later this afternoon before the noise starts.

With my son grown, I no longer attend fireworks displays, but I’ll be hearing them going off in the marina later this evening.
 
My house has been decorated outside with flags and buntings for a few days. We will most likely eat “barbeque food” even if I have to cook it in the house because it’s too hot outside. Then tonight we will walk down the street and watch our city’s fireworks display. My son used to light fire crackers and such in the road, but he is currently serving in the Marines. He might do it on his next leave though! 🙂 My daughter is in the Navy, so it will be a quiet day here without them here.
God bless America! 🇺🇸
 
Nothing going on here today, but that’s normal for France 😉

The local American expat association is having the annual “4th” of July BBQ on Saturday and I usually go but will miss it this year due to a funeral the same day. They aren’t at the same time, but I’m preparing to leave town for an extended period and only have time for one activity. The deceased and her surviving husband are friends of mine. I can’t not attend the funeral.
 
France gets its own party in ten days. It’s all good :+1:t3:
 
gracepoole said:
lighting fireworks (the first year we’ve been able to do so legally since moving here 15 years ago!)
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I sometimes wonder what ever started the trend for municipalities to ban fireworks. It started in the 90’s. Thank God that trend is reversing itself - most likely because not many people pay much attention to it. I remember lighting off fireworks, and a police officer drove by and half-heartedly said “Don’t set off fireworks, it’s against the city ordinance…” We continued with our fireworks when he left.
 
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1Lord1Faith said:
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gracepoole:
lighting fireworks (the first year we’ve been able to do so legally since moving here 15 years ago!)
Click to expand...
I sometimes wonder what ever started the trend for municipalities to ban fireworks. It started in the 90’s. Thank God that trend is reversing itself - most likely because not many people pay much attention to it. I remember lighting off fireworks, and a police officer drove by and half-heartedly said “Don’t set off fireworks, it’s against the city ordinance…” We continued with our fireworks when he left.
Click to expand...
In my state, it’s always been a safety argument. There are still limits here on the types of fireworks available, while in the state I grew up in, anything goes. I’m just THRILLED to be able to have them here legally! I honestly wondered if it would happen in my lifetime.
 
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There are some that are illegal to use where I live, due to safety issues. It’s personal safety, plus fire safety issues, too.

Fire safety because of housing and garages being close to each other in city areas, and then in rural areas if it has been dry, grass fires can start and forest fires can start, and then you can lose farms and farm land, too.
 
One of the first journeymen I worked with when I was an apprentice electrician had lost his hand when he was 10 years old after he picked up a cherry bomb (M-80) that he thought was a dud. He was a good electrician despite having only one hand, but I’m sure he wished he had both. The laws against certain fireworks make good sense to me, but people always bristle and rebel when they feel like their freedom is restricted. I heard loud explosions all through the night.
 
I was planning on walking to the beach down the way to watch the fireworks. Rain storms changed those plans. Celebrations canceled due to thunderstorms.
 
1Lord1Faith said:
I sometimes wonder what ever started the trend for municipalities to ban fireworks. It started in the 90’s.
Click to expand...
Is that when it started? In my state it’s been illegal to buy fireworks for as long as I can remember. I’m not sure if there is a difference between the legality of purchasing versus using them in different municipalities here.

My aunt was a police officer in a big city. I heard enough stories from her of people blowing off their hands or otherwise experiencing death or dismemberment due to fireworks. That sort of killed any desire for me to ever buy or use them. I celebrate with food instead. 😁
 
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