And one date to bind them.

July 3, 2023 11:28 PM

"Born and Died on the 4th of July"

"We should have mastered Quebec and been in Possession of Canada ...(July 2nd) 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, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."

John Adams

Why Do We Celebrate July 4 With Fireworks?.

posted by clavdivs (9 comments total)

By the time Independence Day celebrations really took off after the War of 1812..., fireworks were even more widely available. They would become an increasingly important part of the festivities in the years to come, as public safety concerns caused cannon and gunfire to be gradually phased out of celebrations.

I can see old-timers spitting in disgust at new prohibitions against using live ammunition.

"Is there no one left who remembers how to merry-make properly?"
posted by mmrtnt at 4:02 AM on July 4, 2023 [7 favorites]

And the musical version of the quote: Is Anybody There?
posted by dannyboybell at 5:16 AM on July 4, 2023 [1 favorite]

Ugh. Last night was too much. I've come to regard fireworks the same way I regard firearms: why should I have to trust that a very drunk white guy I've never met knows what they're doing when it comes to launching rocket propelled mortars? The package says to stick them in the ground at a slight angle, but do I really have any faith that the people lighting them off are always going to maintain the highest level of safety and precaution?

I'm kind of amazed there aren't more accidents. There were literally boxes of fireworks on fire last night with random rounds going off long after they had finished.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 5:33 AM on July 4, 2023 [6 favorites]

People started setting fireworks off at 1100 yesterday. It's gonna be a day.

On 01/02 of this year we booked an AirBnB in no man's land so our doggo (and us) don't have to deal with the noise. Looks like we might have to start booking twice a year. :-(
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 5:48 AM on July 4, 2023 [2 favorites]

I just do not have it in me to be proud of being an American in 2023.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:56 AM on July 4, 2023 [9 favorites]

"Is there no one left who remembers how to merry-make properly?"

There's still plenty of olde-timey fun to be had.
posted by MrBadExample at 9:50 AM on July 4, 2023 [5 favorites]

That was great. Especially the infectious laughter at 1:13
posted by mmrtnt at 10:14 AM on July 4, 2023

I saw this clip live and fell in love with SNL.

Fireworks explosion kills 1, injures 9 others in west Michigan

posted by clavdivs at 11:11 AM on July 4, 2023 [1 favorite]

You know who else was born on the 4th of July? Also these people.
posted by kirkaracha at 4:46 PM on July 4, 2023