First up, we have some fun 4th of July comics from The Gazette, published in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 2003. These comics have humorous takes on the holiday from the series featured in each paper. In Denis the Menace, the kids are filling up a pool while saying that they celebrated Independence Day on the last day of school, which I feel a lot of kids would agree with! In Family Circus, the girl is quoted saying, “I know what a Yankee is, but what’s a doodle dandy?” about the American folk song Yankee Doodle, which is often sung on the fourth. Without a doubt, the comics page of the newspaper will always have funny takes on national holidays!
Next, we have a conversation in The Pecos Enterprise in 1985 about the 4th of July. In a piece titled “My Fourth of July is Your Fourth of July”, the author recalls a conversation with Michael Jackson about the holiday. A brief note, this conversation was not had with Michael Jackson, the music superstar, but rather Michael Jackson, the LA Radio talk show host. The author expresses surprise when Jackson tells her that the Fourth is celebrated just as much in California as it is in the original 13 states. Jackson argues that Californians have always been as patriotic as the rest of the states, and while they may not have fought in the Revolutionary War, they have still paid their dues to the country to earn their pride. He even shares that they have a saying in California, “My fourth of July is your fourth of July”, expressing the pride that all Americans have on Independence Day.
(1945 – 1980s) Let Freedom Ring: Hearing the Liberty Bell, 1954
Next is an image from the front page of the Casey Vindicator published on July 1st, 1954, titled “Heard around the world”. The image shows a bell ringing in the clouds alongside groups of soldiers carrying the American flag. The paragraph associated with it, Captioning the image, reads “The Fourth of July rings a bell (the liberty bell) in our minds, it means Washington and Jefferson and Adams and Patrick Henry– fireworks and parades too. It means America.”
Below the image, the further the spirit of freedom that we celebrate on Independence Day, writing “but the freedom we celebrate on our democracy’s independence day concerns free peoples everywhere, and all those longing to be free”. They speak of the spirit of freedom that not only has brought flocks of people to the United States, hoping to live the American dream, but also the revolutions that were inspired by America’s Freedom, encouraging other colonies to do the same. This, I feel, is a great representation of the meaning of Independence Day; to celebrate our freedom, and the way it has changed so many lives throughout the centuries since.
Next, from the Cazenovia Republican published in New York on July 3rd, 1930, they give advice on how to avoid potential fire accidents on the fourth. Arguably, the most popular 4th of July tradition is to light fireworks, which can be a potential hazard and start fires. In this article, they write that the 4th of July is the greatest American holiday, and proper precautions should be taken to prevent it from turning into a fiery disaster. A few of their suggestions for fire prevention included keeping fireworks away from buildings and shooting them in open areas, away from cars, crowds, or piles of flammable materials such as garbage. In addition, they said their fire department would be focused on preventing the start of fires, the spread of fires, and ensuring a quick response to fire alarm activation. These tips are still relevant today and serve as great reminders for your fireworks celebrations this year.
(1824 – 1914) Parades and Greased Pigs: The 4th in Stuart, 1879
Finally, we are jumping back in time to 1879 to talk about the way Independence Day was celebrated in the Iowa town of Stuart. Published on the 8th of July, the recap of the festivities of that year’s celebration. First, they started the day with a salute from the Stuart Guards, followed by a parade. The procession featured a diverse range of groups. One carriage held the featured orators of that year’s celebration. Following them were more carriages and a marching band. The fire department also participated in the parade, proudly displaying their “hook and ladder truck”. Another group included 38 young women, each dressed to represent an American state (at the time, there were only 38 states). The procession ended at the fairgrounds, where community members gathered to hear musical performances and speeches given by featured guests. Later that night came some more entertainment as they held a greased pig and sack race, as well as a couple of horse races. Finally, they ended the day with a reenactment of the war, as community members recreated the victory of America’s independence. While this is quite different from modern Independence Day celebrations, it still holds a similar theme of freedom and celebration. And I would love to know more about these greased pig and sack races!
I hope this glimpse into past Independence Day celebrations has helped you get excited for the Fourth of July this year. Join me again next week to discover more of history’s hidden gems and timeless tales!
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