Has 4th Of July become an underrated holiday now?

[PolymerSkywalker]

How is this any different than the hundreds of other laws on the books that are not enforced in this country?

 

[sam_gordon]

How is this any different than the hundreds of other laws on the books that are not enforced in this country?

https://www.tasteofhome.com/collect...te/#:~:text=Alabama,cone in their back pocket.

 

[AppleDumpling]

Columbus Day has been contentious for quite some time and many states have done away with it entirely.

And to your point, New York City for one has a huge Columbus Day parade and celebration. And it still is a Federal Holiday in the entire nation. https://www.carnifest.com/columbus-day-parade-in-nyc-2023/

It’s a federal and a state holiday in New York. Schools are closed. The NYC Columbus Day parade has been a tradition for almost 100 years. In recent times, the emphasis is less on Christopher Columbus and more a general celebration of Italian-American heritage.

 

[Lumpy1106]

How is this any different than the hundreds of other laws on the books that are not enforced in this country?

It's not, and it's not like it's any worse now. My Mom worked on ambulance crews when I was a kid and the 4th was ALWAYS a giant drunken-idiot-fest. She'd be non-stop busy for at least the day before and day after, but especially on the 4th, and that was decades ago.

 

[TLSnell1981]

We celebrate the Fourth With lots of food, family and fireworks. Probably the biggest holiday gathering after Christmas and Thanksgiving

 

[kanne323]

Folks keep mentioning "illegal" fireworks. Are you sure they're illegal? My state legalized a LOT of fireworks 3-4 years ago. It used to be it was illegal for anything to shoot into the air. I think, under pressure from the public, they legalized pretty much everything.

I'm pretty sure they are legal in my state, but non-town sponsored fireworks are definitely illegal in my town, yet they've been going on off all week long. It's not like we have a shortage of professional shows here- my town has a professional fireworks show every single Thursday night from the end of June through Labor Day, and the town sponsored two additional professional shows over the last few days for the holiday. At least with those, it's only 15 minutes long (I am not a fireworks fan.)

To answer the OP, in all of my 40+ years, I have never seen the lead up to July 4th be like Christmas. July 4th seems to be celebrated even bigger now than it was when I was a kid. It's the busiest travel week of the summer (and the busiest travel week of the year for my town... we go from a population of 9,000 to 75,000.) I've attended a July 4 gathering for the past few years, but never did as a child or young adult. My family would go see fireworks if they were happening (we were usually in a small beach town that sometimes had money to do them but often not), but otherwise it was just a regular beach day.

There were several prime time July 4th events televised here (I always watch the Boston Pops), but like someone else mentioned, there's no incentive to show special themed movies when people can access them anytime they want through streaming.

I am aware some places celebrate Columbus Day (NY) but never did as a kid. I lived in NJ for a long time as an adult, in a very Italian area, and they'd acknowledge it, but not with a parade or anything. The real celebration came for St. Joseph's Day in the spring. Now I live in a state that does not even acknowledge Columbus Day. It's not a thing here (anymore, at least- it may have been at one time.) We do have Indigenous People's Day the same day other states have Columbus Day.

 

[tvguy]

It’s a federal and a state holiday in New York. Schools are closed. The NYC Columbus Day parade has been a tradition for almost 100 years. In recent times, the emphasis is less on Christopher Columbus and more a general celebration of Italian-American heritage.

24 states observe Columbus Day in one form or another.
https://www.officeholidays.com/holidays/usa/columbus-day-state-guide

 

[sasywtch]

Hasn't change in California in decades. If it doesn't say "Safe and Sane" on it, it's illegal.

Gotta love those drones they were advertising looking for illegal fireworks LOL My son and I spent Wednesday morning filling up a Walmart plastic bag with parts of illegal fireworks. I have no idea where they came from as it wasn't from my street.

 

[tvguy]

Gotta love those drones they were advertising looking for illegal fireworks LOL My son and I spent Wednesday morning filling up a Walmart plastic bag with parts of illegal fireworks. I have no idea where they came from as it wasn't from my street.

More illegal fireworks in Carmichael last night. This was like the 8th straight night.

 

[lanejudy]

@DodgerGirl Sometimes our childhood memories aren't the adult reality -- meaning maybe your parents think things are pretty much the same as back then. I don't recall anticipation of 4th of July being similar to Christmas, but I think I get what you are saying -- kids get more excited for "special" events than most adults, so there is a degree of anticipation felt by kids that may not be felt by adults.

My area had plenty of celebration. In more recent years (probably the past 20 or so) several communities hold their celebrations on the weekend, so it seems like an almost constant stream of holiday happenings when the 4th falls during the week. I think I could have attended parades, festivals and/or fireworks on any or all dates from Fri. June 30th through Tues. July 4th this year, all just within less than 30 minutes of my house.

But I do think back to the 70s when I was a kid, and fireworks were no where near as common as today. Fireworks was a special event because it was often a once-a-year opportunity. Today fireworks can be found at any number of locations all year long -- besides the 4th of July there are often fireworks to celebrate New Year's Eve, winter carnival, homecoming, after professional and semi-pro sporting events, various community festivals throughout the year, etc. Something that used to be once a year for most of us has become much more commonplace in society.

I hope you were still able to have a good day with parade, picnic and fireworks, even if it wasn't actually on the 4th.