July 3rd v. July 4th - What day do YOU celebrate?

[kafitty]

Hi all!

This is my FAVORITE HOLIDAY!!!

But where i've grown up, it seems that July 3rd is the bigger "celebration" (read: party) day. But the more i talk to people, the more this seems like a very regional tradition...as in, only people from Marshfield or Plymouth, MA have any idea what i'm talking about.

So i was wondering - anyone else here on the DIS celebrate more on the 3rd? Or is it mainly the 4th for the rest of y'all? Or both?

Please feel free to share any traditions/celebrations you partake in; like i said, this is my FAVORITE holiday so i just love to hear about it!

My favorite part is hiking up and down the beach in my hometown with my friends, drinking (legally...now...ahem ) and watching everyone set off their (illegal) fireworks!

 

[happygirl]

We always do it on July 4th

 

[laurie31]

I've never heard of anyone celebrating any other day that the fourth.

It's not like Christmas, where you have to get together with all the family and exchange gifts.

We just grill out and watch the fireworks that night. I'm looking very forward to it because I am OFF this year. (I have to work it every other year.)

 

[Imzadi]

Why in the world would you celebrate July 4th on July 3rd?

If you carry over and start celebrating on July 3rd and continue it on July 4th, so it's a two day celebration, I can understand that. The more partying the better.


A little FYI: The Declaration of Independence wasn't actually finished being signed by July 4th. It actually took several months to get everyone in the Continental Congress to all sign. But the main names, John Hancock, Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, etc. were on by July 4th.

 

[shellybaxter]

My husband's birthday is on the 4th so we have a big BBQ for birthday/4th. But even when I was a little kid we celebrated on the 4th. Actually you couldn't really celebrate the 4th on the 3rd here where I live. Fireworks are only allowed between 6:00AM on the 4th to 2:00PM on the 5th

 

[Plantlady]

I voted july 3rd, because my grandpa's birthday is on the third. So the family all gathers, we celebrate Grandpa (he turns 96 this year), we play some music together, eat a big meal, and end our evening with fireworks, since we're all gathered anyway.

Now, this date is very flexible. in the past, we've celebrated at the end of july, sometimes the 5th or 6th.. basically, we go for the weekend, but we have about 50 family members we have to organize.

This year though. The third.

 

[disykat]

Our local fireworks are on the 3rd. I think they started because people could go the next day to the big displays in Seattle, etc.

I actually like it that way because if you can sleep in on the 4th. It's also easier on us because we can leave our dog home alone on the 3rd, but not on the 4th - depending on the neighbors. We have new neighbors this year, so I'm not sure if there will be fireworks whizzing by our windows for hours or not.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

I've never heard of the 3rd... then, uh, it wouldn't be called "The 4th of July".

 

[Stacerita]

Nope, we always celebrate on the 4th.

 

[clori]

I grew up in a city in NH that has fireworks on July 3rd. I was fine with it since it also meant I could go to another city on July 4th for fireworks and see them two nights in a row. Things like BBQs were always done on the July 4th. I guess it helped my mom a bit since her brother passed away on Independence Day.

My city also trick or treated for Halloween on October 30th.

I'm going to a campground in Maine next week. Fireworks are on July 6th. We are assuming that there aren't tons of fireworks companies and they are already booked on the 4th.

 

[cepmom]

I'm from South of Boston as well and I know what you mean about the 3rd
Up until I met DH, I always celebrated on the 4th. Once I met DH, we started going to his uncle's house in Humarock for the bonfires and fireworks which is on the 3rd. So now our big night is the 3rd and weather permitting, a nice beach day/cookout on the 4th.

 

[Beca]

Well, my birthday is on the 3rd....so, I definitely celebrate BOTH!!!!

 

[of the seas]

I celebrate on the 4th. My town is celebrating on the 3rd. It's not the same to me!

 

[mrs_hower726]

I celebrate on July 3rd. Growing up, that's when the fireworks were in my town and these days I'm always performing with my community band somewhere. July 4th is a day to chill out and relax with DH.

 

[EMom]

The 4th of July is on the 4th. Seems obvious to me. The town parade starts at 9:00 and you have to be there before 8:00 to get a decent spot. Once that's over, we go home and shower because the parade was so hot. With the last week's temps being over 100 degrees every day, I predict the same post parade shower this year. We may grill out, maybe not. It's so hot this year, I'm pushing for eating out. Plus, MIL is in the hospital again and we can't seem to make any plans as DH has to run there on short notice. Grilling takes time and planning. We often fit a movie in on the 4th. There is a festival in the evening and massive fireworks start shortly after 9:00. We won't have any fireworks at home this year because of a ban......With no rain in 5 weeks, the fire risk is too high.

But we're looking forward to the 4th. (BTW, we trick or treat only on October 31 as well.)

 

[HunnyPots]

Why would you celebrate on the 3rd? Did something important happen on the 3rd to make it more celebration-worthy than the 4th?
Either way, I don't really do anything special to mark the occasion. I might watch 1776 if it's on TCM this year, but that's about it. Not a big holiday for me.

 

[JR6ooo4]

I like to spread out my festivities. 3-4 days before and a day or two after.
It should be a year-long feeling.
Mikeeee

 

[kafitty]

I've never heard of the 3rd... then, uh, it wouldn't be called "The 4th of July".

that's why i started this thread, i wanted to see if it really just was something that was big in my area. i think we're just THAT impatient - i mean, ever encountered a MA driver?

I'm from South of Boston as well and I know what you mean about the 3rd
Up until I meat DH, I always celebrated on the 4th. Once I met DH, we started going to his uncle's house in Humarock for the bonfires and fireworks which is on the 3rd. So now our big night is the 3rd and weather permitting, a nice beach day/cookout on the 4th.

Humarock beach one of my BFF's has a house down by the Rexhame end, so my plan this year is just to walk Humarock/Rexhame/Fieldston and then back again! Although high tide is at 7:20 so we'll see how much that affects things.

Why would you celebrate on the 3rd? Did something important happen on the 3rd to make it more celebration-worthy than the 4th?

i honestly have NO IDEA why we celebrate on the 3rd...we just do! It has nothing to do with what day of the week it is, either!

 

[cepmom]

Humarock beach one of my BFF's has a house down by the Rexhame end, so my plan this year is just to walk Humarock/Rexhame/Fieldston and then back again! Although high tide is at 7:20 so we'll see how much that affects things.

ohhh, that's a good walk! DH's parents also have a house a little past the Fieldston area, in Ocean Bluff, We've talked about walking the beach to get there from Humarock, but we figure we'd never want to walk back again! Have a good night...pray for no rain!

 

[kilee]

Must be a small town thing....because our's is the 3rd. We live just a few houses from the beach- but it's normally a quiet beach town-- until the 3rd and 4th. They close off a several block radius on the 3rd and it draws approx 30,000 people for the fireworks the town sets off on the beach. It is mass chaos on the 3rd here.

People start heading to the beach around 4/5pm. We are only 7 houses off the beach- so we have a party at our house- because you don't have to worry about the parking or dealing w/ the crowds. We can see it all right from our house.

On the 4th there is no organized plans around here.......however, it usually sounds like we're under attack. Fireworks are illegal-- however, they must turn the other cheek on the 4th because they are going off everywhere around us and on the beach making it just crazy.