At the heart of much speculative fiction (and fiction in general) is a question. What if? On Tuesdays I like to throw one out there and see what you make of it. Do with it as you please. If a for-instance is not specified, feel free to interpret that instance as you wish. And if you find this becomes a novel-length answer, I'd appreciate a thank you in the acknowledgements. 😉
Thursday is the 4th of July. In the U.S., Independence Day. Fireworks. Barbecue. Summer celebrations...
What if our Independence Day was February 4th?
LOL, I was just thinking about that this morning. Not February 4th specifically but the fact that it is hot here on July 4th. Cities have firework displays but I don't relish the thought of being out in the heat waiting for them. So I was thinking it would be neat if they did fireworks in the winter months here. That I think I would enjoy! However, in Montana, nope, that's not going to work LOL :)
ReplyDeletebetty
There would probably be less fires started by fireworks.
ReplyDeleteFeb. 4 is cooler by far, with rain and/or snow. July 4th is probably best, people on holiday, kids out of school. Apparently it was stinking hot in Philadelphia when the Continental congress sign the Declaration of Independence.
ReplyDeleteHave you seen the movie 1776? Great music, great message.
Oh man, I can imagine. And with their powdered wigs and long dresses... I can't imagine summers in the 18th Century.
DeleteThere probably wouldn't be a parade, which means the next town over wouldn't be famous for anything.
ReplyDeleteThey light fireworks for New Year's Eve and it's winter then. Doesn't stop people from celebrating - they just move indoors.
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting but I think we would have done fine. In Binghamton, we used to have fireworks on New Years Eve and we have a big St. Patrick's day parade despite sometimes having feet of snow on the ground. One good thing would be Northern cities being able to have fireworks earlier in the evening. And no fainting in the heat of July 4 in Washington DC would happen- I've been there twice for the 4th of July and I can testify to how miserable it can be. After all, they used to have President inaugurations on March 4 (and one President died as a result!)
ReplyDeleteBut wasn't that due to Harrison talking for four hours in the rain?
DeleteIf only we'd known we could have synced with Disney's World Firework Day.
ReplyDeleteYoubare wusses....hahahaaaaa. We have Canada Day on July 1st but if it were February 1st, we would still have fireworks and winter fun-snow sculptures, skiing, polar bathing, although that is nuts. You make fun no matter what..heck my brother in law barbeques all throug the year even when there is a blizzard going on
ReplyDeleteWe barbeque in winter, too, but we have no snow. Yes, we readily admit we are wusses in winter...
DeleteThat might actually be nice. I hate the winter, so an extra holiday to relieve the misery might be better. And it would make going to work the day after so much easier. We don't do fireworks (it terrifies the dog, and I'm married to a firefighter anyway), but the big ones the city does are fairly close to our house. It doesn't get started until pretty late since it doesn't get dark until pretty late. Between the noise from the fireworks and dealing with a stressed out dog we don't get to sleep until late. One February 4th it would all end a lot earlier.
ReplyDeleteGood point.
DeleteWell since I do nothing special I would be okay with it. Thankful for the US that I live in but I am not the firework type of person so its okay. Maybe then some of those folks that live three doors (different county, legal there) would not spend their last two pay checks on fireworks!!!
ReplyDeleteIt would be a different thing in the winter, though, I expect.
DeleteI lived in China for two years and the day that they (the Chinese) go crazy with fireworks in their New Year. It usually falls in the middle of February and the amount of fireworks is FAR FAR FAR more than in the States.
ReplyDeleteI lived in Beijing where the winters are brutally cold, but there were fireworks everywhere.
I think a winter Independence Day would change some of the particulars of the celebrations (less barbecues, parades, etc) but the fireworks would still be there.
Good to know.
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