Independence Day

This evening, for the first time this year, I saw the word
"independence" in connection with the festivities.   It was on my
husband's calendar.

The word most commonly used to indicate that an event is connected to
the Fourth of July is "firecracker".   The special sandwich at
Jimmy-John's this week is a "firecracker wrap".  (Submarine fillings
wrapped in a red tortilla.  (Orange, actually, since the natural color
of a tortilla is yellow.))

There were a few references to "the nation's birthday" even though the
actual start of the nation was on March 4, 1789.  Up until then, we
had been free and independent states.

Guy Fawkes Day is a similar bonfires-and-fireworks holiday, and I
wondered whether it had undergone a similar shift -- until I realized
that even a yank can recite "I see no reason/why gunpowder
treason/should ever be forgot".

Of course, there is a direct connection to fireworks.

--
Joy Beeson
joy beeson at centurylink dot net
http://wlweather.net/PAGEJOY/