CULTURE/SOCIETY: Employees Tell About First July 4 In U.S.

Hmmmm, I seem to have become something of a holiday blogger. Oh well, that's cool by me!

This is from my work newsletter. - OlderMusicGeek

Employees tell about first July 4 in U.S.

L (name deleted) was surprised by the differences between Fourth of July and Canada Day, which is July 1. “I thought the celebrations would be similar,” she says. “Not so much!”

L, finance/recoupment specialist in Recoupment and Medicare Secondary Payer at (town name deleted), grew up in Canada and experienced her first Fourth of July as a U.S. resident two years ago.

“We have the picnics, parades, you know, the whole deal,” she says. In Canada, however, only licensed professionals are allowed to set off fireworks for community shows. “Not in the U.S.,” she says. “Anyone can go to the local fireworks tent and stock up on various explosives.”

That’s just what Laurie and her husband did. “My husband took me to a local fireworks stand and told me to pick out whatever I wanted,” she says.

She and her husband also grilled hot dogs, tried to teach each other the words to their national anthem and attended a parade and fireworks show.

“The fireworks would have been romantic except my husband and hundreds of people around us were setting off their own fireworks,” she says. “So there I sat on our blanket alone, happily holding my sparkler!”


Fireworks of another kind

D (name deleted), process analyst in Preprocess at NAS, grew up in (town name deleted), Manitoba, which is 15 miles north of the International Peace Gardens located on the Canada-U.S. border.

The only time D paid attention to the American holiday was when she was planning a shopping trip to (town deleted), N.D., and wanted to make sure the stores would be open, she says.

In April 2004, D married a North Dakotan, and their wedding reception was held on the Fourth at her in-laws’ cabin on Lake Metigoshe near (town name deleted), N.D. D experienced another kind of fireworks when the grill was engulfed in flames.

“We were still able to eat the potatoes,” she says.

D says she sees more flags and festivities on the Fourth of July than she did on Canada Day. D has noticed “Americans are more patriotic.” To her, Canada Day meant a day off work. “The patriotism is nice to see,” she says. “I’m so happy to be here.”