Boom... Flash... Ooohhh... Aaahhhh

Why do we shoot off fireworks for the Fourth of July? I always wondered and never really knew. So, instead of doing a heavy HR laden post for this holiday weekend, I decided to research this. The web never ceases to amaze me. Truly, what did we do prior to the vast wealth of knowledge at our fingertips? I know I never spent that much time at the library.

The answer I found to the burning question why (answer thanks to Yahoo Answers):

The reason we use fireworks as part of the 4th of July celebration is this:

John Adams (a Founding Father and signer of the Declaration), wrote a letter to his wife, and said that Independence Day "will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America...It will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews [performances], Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations [fireworks] from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more." 

And so that is what Americans do today.

WOW! I love this answer. I know, I know. Fireworks have been around for thousands of years. We have the Chinese to thank for this. Fireworks are cool. Fireworks evoke that true "ohhh, ahhhh" factor. Fireworks are dangerous if not handled by professionals. Am I the only one that loves the smell of fireworks as much as the prettiness of them? It's okay if I am. I embrace it.

Here are some other "Fun Facts" about the Fourth of July (thanks to Wikipedia):

• In 1777, thirteen gunshots were fired, once at morning and again as evening fell, on July 4 in Bristol, Rhode Island. Philadelphia celebrated the first anniversary in a manner a modern American would find quite familiar: an official dinner for the Continental Congress, toasts, 13-gun salutes, speeches, prayers, music, parades, troop reviews, and fireworks. Ships were decked with red, white, and blue bunting.^[12]
• In 1778, General George Washington marked July 4 with a double ration of rum for his soldiers and an artillery salute. Across the Atlantic Ocean, ambassadors John Adams and Benjamin Franklin held a dinner for their fellow Americans in Paris, France.^[13]
• In 1779, July 4 fell on a Sunday. The holiday was celebrated on Monday, July 5.^[13]
• In 1781, the Massachusetts General Court became the first state legislature to recognize July 4 as a state celebration.^[13]
• In 1783, Moravians in Salem, North Carolina, held a celebration of July 4 with a challenging music program assembled by Johann Friedrich Peter. This work was titled "The Psalm of Joy".
• In 1791 the first recorded use of the name "Independence Day" occurred.
• In 1820 the first Fourth of July celebration was held in Eastport, Maine which remains the largest in the state.^[14]
• In 1870, the U.S. Congress made Independence Day an unpaid holiday for federal employees.^[15]
• In 1938, Congress changed Independence Day to a paid federal holiday.^[16]

Most important, the Fourth of July signifies our independence from Great Britain. It is a great day in the history of the United States. We are friends with Great Britain now, but then, not so much. There was a big tiff and we weren't friends. The US basically said that we are taking our toys and keeping them here and you can't play in our yard anymore. We can't be friends anymore, but perhaps in a few years it will all be okay again. Thankfully, it is all okay. I am quite fond of those "across the pond". Think how different music would be without Great Britain... scary.

I digress, I often do. Be safe this holiday weekend. Take care on the highways. Hug a Brit and tell them it is all good now. Enjoy family... they are family after all. Eat a lot. Use sunscreen (I know!). Reflect on those who fought and still fight for our freedom. Freedom is never free. It costs a lot in human sacrifice to keep this freedom.

Love and Serenity