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Hey there, Short List readers! 👋 Laura here. Happy Independence Day! We're taking a break from our regular news rundown today to celebrate the holiday. Enjoy! And I hope you have a safe, happy Fourth of July. 🇺🇸 |
Nice weather, family barbeques, parades, fireworks and red, white and blue everything – these are time-honored and beloved traditions for Independence Day in America. We know it now as a day of patriotism and time off work, but the Fourth of July began the journey to becoming a quintessentially American holiday in 1776, when the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. |
Patriotic traditions: Though some traditions have changed or disappeared over time – hosting mock funerals for the king of England, for example – many have remained true to their roots in the almost 250 years since the declaration was signed. | Food, fireworks and fun: Kids participate in the decorated bike parade at the annual Family Independence Day Celebration & Bike Parade on July 2 in Destin, Florida. TINA HARBUCK, The Destin Log / USA TODAY NETWORK |
As always, the holiday is marked with parades, cookouts and of course, endless amounts of fireworks. Yes, fireworks are awesome. Yes, fireworks are fun. But fireworks can also be super dangerous! Accidents lead to thousands of hospital trips each year and can even be fatal. 👉 What you should know before lighting fireworks. |
🧨 Fireworks tip: Keep a bucket of water nearby in case of fire or other misadventure. | Fireworks blast near a U.S. flag displayed on a Williamston fire ladder truck, during the 4th of July Freedom Celebration Fireworks and Concert in Williamston, S.C. Saturday, June 29, 2024. Ken Ruinard, The Greenville News / USA TODAY NETWORK |
Asking the important questions |
Baby, you're a drone light show 🎶 |
There's a buzz in the air − literally − and it's turning the night sky into a blank canvas for a growing medium: art and animation produced by drones. After a decade of advances in what drones can do, swarm drone light shows are really hitting their stride, with more and more public spectacles swapping out fireworks for flying robots, like Super Bowl halftime shows, baseball games, weddings and, of course, Fourth of July celebrations. 🌌 See how drone shows work. | A swarm of 1,000 drones forms patterns in the night sky during a drone light show as part of the 2024 Korea Drone Expo in Incheon on May 9, 2024. JUNG YEON-JE, AFP via Getty Images |
Feel sorta weird about July 4th? |
It's a time of fireworks, frivolity and ... fearing the end of democracy? Well, yes, for some. The last few years have rattled and riled up many Americans, with the past few weeks being particularly worrisome. Between former President Donald Trump's felony conviction and President Joe Biden's puzzling debate performance, it might feel difficult to truly celebrate our nation. |
The truth is, Independence Day can be tough for Americans who have felt unwelcome in the U.S. or jaded by its politics, though experts say there is room for personal growth in such discomfort. And if you find these opinions unpatriotic, at least try hearing them out before making snap judgments. 🇺🇸 What to do if you're feeling unpatriotic. | The White House is bathed in red, white and blue light as part of the Fourth of July celebration in 2020. Win McNamee, Getty Images | | | | In the vacuum of prescribed meaning, Americans have imbued the flag with their own: sacrifice, freedom, patriotism, nationalism, pride, disappointment and hope. | | | |  | Independence Day in Bristol, Rhode Island, is 'like being a little kid again .... pure, pure joy.' | | | | American celebrates it's 248th birthday on July 4, 2024. See how people around the country observed the holiday. | | | | Drones are being used with, or instead of, fireworks in several cities to provide audiences with something new and address environmental concerns. | | | | Even with all the complaints a person could lodge at America, the benefits of being an American far outweigh our problems. | | | | On July 4, 1776, the U.S. declared its independence from Great Britain. But did you know we could celebrate America's freedom on a different date? | | | | The Fourth of July marks the peak of summer travel. Here are the best and worst times to avoid traffic. | | | | Chicago or New York? Which American city has the best hot dog and should you add Ketchup to a hot? It's one of America's greatest debates. | | | | Fourth of July events have evolved since former President Thomas Jefferson held the first Independence day celebration at the White House in 1801. | | | | Words can hold a lot of power. They can uplift and inspire. Here are 30 patriotic quotes that honor our country's legacy. | | | | | Brighten your day with one of our games. | | | | | |
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