Patriotic 4th of July

4th of July, Independence Day

In the US, the 4th of July is Independence Day, a day to celebrate freedom. It commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, which declared independence from Great Britain.

Since it’s a national holiday, people generally have the day off from work and school to attend picnics, fireworks displays, parades, BBQs and other patriotic gatherings of family and friends. Favorite recipes are usually red, white and blue-themed. We’ve seen everything from cakes and pies to layered drinks and fruit parfaits.

4th of July fruit

Photo Credit: PartyCity.com

Some of the biggest fireworks displays on the 4th of July are held in New York, Boston, San Francisco and Washington, DC. Since 1973, Boston has hosted the “Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, a music and fireworks show over the Charles River Esplanade.  We were able to see this show from the top of a hill in the Arboretum one year, a great memory!

When visiting Cape Cod, we like to celebrate with family, and enjoy some good, local food and fun: lobster, the beach, boats and the town parade and fireworks display. When I was young, we’d watch fireworks from the beach, or sometimes, we’d go out on someone’s boat.  A bunch of boats would gather off-shore and tie-off one to another, throwing in an anchor or two. This makeshift flotilla would then bob about, its occupants eating and drinking and socializing until the big  fireworks show.  My sister always rode her horse (decked out with American flag accessories) in the local parade. These days, her boys decorate their bicycles and ride.

Cotuit Parade

If we happen to be in Atlanta for the 4th there is always a fireworks display at the local baseball field in downtown Norcross.  The day is spent preparing then eating a low country boil at a friend’s house just down the road.  This consists of crab, shrimp, sausage, potatoes and corn all thrown into a large pot and cooked all together.  When it’s done, the table is covered with the morning’s newspaper, the pot is dumped out, and we all dig in.  At dusk we walk off the meal and head over for the fireworks display.

When I lived in New York, the bold choice was to brave the crowds early, and stake out a spot on the highway by the river for the evening festivities. Otherwise, the friend with the best rooftop view of the East River (or the Hudson, since they seem to keep moving the fireworks back and forth) hosted a party.  The 4th of July traditional Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating contest is said to have arisen to settle the score between four immigrants as to who was the most patriotic! The first contest was in 1916, and has been held almost every 4th of July since.

Boston Fireworks

Photo Credit: John Tammaro

This year, we’ll be celebrating with Houston at the Freedom Over Texas event, featuring Martina McBride and Sheryl Crow. It’s an afternoon of live music and family activities, culminating in a fireworks show accompanied by patriotic and popular music. We’ll be working at the event, but we’ll try and snap a few pics!

******************************************************************************************************************

What’s your favorite Independence Day celebration?

******************************************************************************************************************