Thursday, July 4, 2013

THE FOURTH OF JULY AND (A PARADE OF BIRDS PHOTO BLOG)

Hi Everybody!!
To You in the States: Hope You had a safe and happy Holiday. It is approaching midnight in real time here at Kates Cabin and I think the fireworks have ended in the neighborhood. In rural areas, rules are relaxed so people can shoot off the fireworks in their backyard. (This is crazy with no rain). At dark, many people begin popping them off. After an hour, half the people have run out of their fireworks. About another hour and the rest dropped off to the remaining 2 or 3 yo-yos that spent too much money on things that go up in smoke in an instant! (I am against fireworks as they scare the birds and all the other animals). All is quiet now and back to the normal crickets and frogs. Your photostudy tonight is a Parade of Birds from here at the Sanctuary. Enjoy!

Look at this great photo I caught of Elisabeth:

FREEDOM!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(United_States)

Independence Day (United States)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Displays of fireworks, such as these over theWashington Monument, take place across the United States on Independence Day.
Also called	The Fourth of July The Fourth
Observed by	United States
Type	National
Significance	The day the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress
Date	July 4
Celebrations	Fireworks, Family reunions, Concerts, Barbecues, Picnics,Parades, Baseball games

Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, and political speeches and ceremonies, in addition to various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the National Day of the United States.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Customs

Independence Day is a national holiday marked by patriotic displays. Similar to other summer-themed events, Independence Day celebrations often take place outdoors. Independence Day is a federal holiday, so all non-essential federal institutions (like the postal service and federal courts) are closed on that day. Many politicians make it a point on this day to appear at a public event to praise the nation's heritage, laws, history, society, and people.

Families often celebrate Independence Day by hosting or attending a picnic or barbecue and take advantage of the day off and, in some years, long weekend to gather with relatives. Decorations (e.g., streamers, balloons, and clothing) are generally colored red, white, and blue, the colors of the American flag. Parades are often in the morning, while fireworks displays occur in the evening at such places as parks, fairgrounds, or town squares.

The night before the Fourth was once the focal point of celebrations, marked by raucous gatherings often incorporating bonfires as their centerpiece. In New England, towns competed to build towering pyramids, assembled from hogsheads and barrels and casks. They were lit at nightfall, to usher in the celebration. The highest were in Salem, Massachusetts (on Gallows Hill, the famous site of the execution of 13 women and 6 men for witchcraft in 1692 during the Salem witch trials, where the tradition of bonfires in celebration had persisted), composed of as many as forty tiers of barrels; these are the tallest bonfires ever recorded. The custom flourished in the 19th and 20th centuries, and is still practiced in some New England towns.^[18]

Independence Day fireworks are often accompanied by patriotic songs such as the national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner", "God Bless America", "America the Beautiful", "My Country, 'Tis of Thee", "This Land Is Your Land", "Stars and Stripes Forever", and, regionally, "Yankee Doodle" in northeastern states and "Dixie" in southern states. Some of the lyrics recall images of the Revolutionary War or the War of 1812.

Firework shows are held in many states, and many fireworks are sold for personal use or as an alternative to a public show. Safety concerns have led some states to ban fireworks or limit the sizes and types allowed. Illicit traffic transfers many fireworks from less restrictive states.

A salute of one gun for each state in the United States, called a “salute to the union,” is fired on Independence Day at noon by any capable military base.^[19]

In 2009, New York City had the largest fireworks display in the country, with over 22 tons of pyrotechnics exploded.^[20] Other major displays are in Chicago on Lake Michigan; in San Diego over Mission Bay; in Boston on the Charles River; in St. Louis on the Mississippi River; in San Francisco over the San Francisco Bay; and on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.. During the annual Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival, Detroit, Michigan hosts one of the world's largest fireworks displays, over the Detroit River, to celebrate Independence Day in conjunction with Windsor, Ontario's celebration of Canada Day.

While the official observance always falls on July 4th, participation levels may vary according to which day of the week the 4th falls on. If the holiday falls in the middle of the week, some fireworks displays and celebrations may take place during the weekend for convenience, again, varying by region.

The first week of July is typically one of the busiest American travel periods of the year, as many people utilize the holiday for extended vacation trips.^[21]

Kates Cabin Bird Sanctuary in Texas Annual Fourth of July Parade of Birds (led by the Little King)

....this is brendasue signing off from Rainbow Creek. See You next time! My Party is tomorrow, the 5th when the Grandkids come over. (Hooray)-So, taking a long weekend.
See You guys back on Monday. Peace To All-

image credit:
File:Fourth of July fireworks behind the Washington Monument, 1986.jpg

Permission
(Reusing this file)

This image or file is a work of a U.S. Air Force Airman or employee, taken or made as part of that person's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image or file is in the public domain.