When I was a little girl, the 4th of July was splendid! The Second World War had ended, and patriotism was a national hobby. We were so happy and proud to be Americans!
One year that stands out in my memory, mothers dress, and my sisters and mine were matching red, white, and blue. My father was also enthusiastic. He gave us little American flags to wave. We watched a parade somewhere downtown, and there were so many people and so many flags, so much bunting. Those flags were proudly flown and no one made any rude remarks about them. The idea that anyone would not be celebrating honestly and proudly was preposterous.
People looked forward to the celebration which might fall on any day of the week. There were no mandatory Monday holidays then. People were excited to celebrate the 4th on whichever day it fell. There were barbeques and picnics in backyards in every neighborhood and municipal parks. Massive fireworks displays followed parades in the evening when the light failed. The national celebration was enthusiastic and loud.
Set in the corner of our yard, far enough from the house so we would not risk burning it down, sat a big stone outdoor fireplace. There was a picnic table out there. When extra guests were expected, card tables were set up in the grass with folding chairs enough to go around them. Not many people had “garden furniture” as they often do today. Everything was spontaneous. It was just whatever came to hand and could be moved without too much trouble into the yard.
Paper napkins and paper plates were a modern convenience that was gaining popularity. Dishes of China were still often used though because some people felt it was more genteel. Paper plates and paper napkins were white. I never saw any in colors till much later.
As a nation, I believe we were grateful. And gratitude can accomplish amazing things.
It was such fun. Home cooked fried chicken, not “carry out” and strawberry shortcake for dessert. Eating watermelons was a favorite occupation. Spitting out all those seeds so that we would not grow a watermelon in our stomachs, kept us alert. Potato salad and cole slaw, hot dogs and hamburgers with buns added to the fun. Lots of mustard and catsup and sometimes relish or pickles accompanied these.
None of us had ever heard of Grey Poupon mustard.
Nor did I ever hear a word about cholesterol or triglycerides. People did not even talk about getting fat, even though there was probably a big bowl of potato chips at every gathering.
There were also jello salads with grated carrots and mysterious things inside including tiny marshmallows. Usually, there were plenty of deviled eggs garnished with olives, radishes, and celery. Tomatoes were not ripe yet and so were rarely available at the market. People waited till they were in season. (Same for corn on the cob). It ripened earlier in the south, but until then you simply could not buy it. It was such a great day when the corn was ready. Everybody buttered and salted it and ate it all up. Then we were allowed to roast marshmallows when the coals died down.
Fireworks were expected even at a private party. Some were illegal of course, but the men had a way of coming up with them. Cherry bombs were impossibly loud. Chinese fireworks worked best; the dreaded Roman Candles were notorious. And they were dangerous! They still are. Fireworks are so elaborate now, and a session can sometimes go on long enough for a viewer to get bored. But back in the forties and fifties, they were much simpler and certainly shorter, but to us they were magic!
Those days seem far away now. Protesters did not seem to be part of any celebration so close to the end of the Second World War. The country was pretty together and feeling triumphant and victorious. Hope was everywhere, and no one scoffed at it. We were all proud Americans. We felt spared from war, and our job was to live productive lives. Studying hard for the young, working hard for those who were older seemed reasonable.
As a nation, I believe we were grateful. And gratitude can accomplish amazing things.
Happy 4th of July!