If you ask me, I don't think the Fourth of July gets the attention it deserves. I'm sure that if you asked a group of 20 people what their favorite holiday was, about 15 of them would say Christmas. Three of them would say Halloween, one of them would say Hanukkah, and the one delightfully awkward person who hangs out in a corner by herself would say it's Earth Day. No disrespect to Earth Day, it's just that nothing truly monumental happens, and people typically don't send each other cards to celebrate. (In fact, cards would probably be a little counterproductive.)
It's easy to claim Christmas to be a favorite, since Christmas is filled with whimsy. As Americans, we're conditioned to believe that Christmas is the monumental holiday where families cozy up next to a fireplace with a massive plate of holiday cookies. Diets are easily forgotten. Holiday movies like Jingle All The Way re-appear on Netflix, and "Jingle Bell Rock" is, for a full month, actually a decent tune. Yet, I think we need to give it up for the Fourth of July. Sure, the only true "holiday movie" features Will Smith fighting aliens, but all in all, the holiday is a hidden gem that deserves your full attention. It's way more than a day off from work or school.
Let's think about all of the positive points that the Fourth of July has over Christmas, shall we? You might not think they exist, but without a doubt, they definitely do.
1. There's no pressure regarding gifts
Heck, people are ecstatic if you bring a six-pack to their barbecue. And they're not even mad if you drink that six-pack all by yourself, unless you start drunkenly slurring about how much you secretly hate the party host's wife. I mean, sure, she can be catty, but you should stay out of it unless you want a bunch of drama on July 5th.
Back when we were kids, getting gifts was the center of Christmas. As we grew older, it was more about finding that perfect present for a loved one. It's seriously a lot of pressure, and could often be dreadful if you wait until last minute to hit the stores. During the Fourth of July, the only pressure you'll have is making sure you don't overcook the burgers.
2. The weather will be way, way nicer
The East Coast might be getting some rain this Fourth, but typically, this is a holiday where we can celebrate outside all day long. It's always a mixed bag for Christmas. Sometimes it'll snow (which is great, until you have to leave the house), or it might be like, t-shirt weather out there. Typically, you can't play with a frisbee outside on Christmas.
3. Radio stations don't play Fourth of July music for two months leading up to it
I feel like Christmas music starts up in November, before we've even bought our Thanksgiving turkeys. Music that's fit for the Fourth of July is everyday music — I mean, "Born In The USA"? "America"? "American Girl"? They're all fun to play on the Fourth to celebrate the USA. Yet, you won't cringe with hatred if you hear them blast on the radio a week prior..
Songs about America are built to last, and they're constructed as fun, powerful ballads that will never feel stale. Honestly, "Rocking Around The Christmas Tree" is the least rocking song that's ever been produced. And if I hear "Simply Having A Wonderful Christmas Time" one more time, I'll burst into tears.
4. Pools might be involved
Besides the extreme expense, time suckage, and major construction involved, I'm pretty sure that my parents never bought me a pool because of all of the spontaneous invites that'd ricochet from that decision. Kids often flocked to homes with pools in the summer, because they're amazing. Yet when a childless adult puts a pool in, they're pretty much announcing that their house will become party central. If they had a Fourth of July barbecue, they'd question why you didn't bring a swimsuit along.
You can't jump into a pool in the winter. I mean, you could, but you'd probably end up violently ill.
5. You won't get sugar hangovers
The Fourth is all about over-indulging in protein and alcohol. You'll feel full, but you probably won't feel sick. It's a much different feeling than the inevitable Christmas cookie binge, where you eat 15 cookies because they're there, and then realize that it hurts to leave the couch. "But it's the holidays," you say to yourself while "forgetting" to log into MyFitnessPal. Also, need I remind you of the inevitable sugar crash? It happens to adults, too. And it's the worst.
6. You can afford to take a little more time off
If you work at a place where your vacation days are dictated by someone else's vacation days, the Fourth of July is the holiday for you. Everyone else will be fighting over the span of time between Christmas and New Year's. They've probably already budgeted their summer vacation days for a week-long trip with family. It's simply easier to expand your weekend now rather than in December.
7. You won't be in debt next month
Well, I mean... you might be. I haven't looked at your bank statements recently. But, it's probably debt you're already aware of. Christmas debt is the absolute worst, and ringing in the new year with a bloated credit card statement is a horrible feeling. It's way easier to celebrate and have fun without a lingering feeling of "how much will all of this cost?"
Listen, I love spending money on loved ones. But I also know that it can get massively out of control. With the Fourth of July, all you need to worry about is having enough pasta salad on hand for your little backyard barbecue.
8. You won't be traveling far.
I'm going to bet that you won't be buying airplane tickets to celebrate the holiday with a loved one. In fact, you can openly choose to do nothing at all the day of, and suffer minimal ridicule. It's all up to you!
If you have family members who live a distance away, there's no pressure to use your mini-vacation to connect with them. Chances are, they have their own plans and didn't factor in a surprise visit. While family is fantastic, sometimes it's just nice to celebrate on your own home turf, surrounded by your own things, without the fear of calling your distant second cousin by the wrong name. As someone who gets super paranoid about saying the wrong thing to the wrong family member during the annual Christmas party, it's nice to know that at least I can have fun on the Fourth without letting my anxiety spill all over the place.
Images: Deb Nystrom/Flickr; Giphy (8)
