What to Do If You Think ‘I Hate 4th of July’ (Explained)


July 4 is a special day for America and its citizens because it commemorates the day America achieved its independence, which is why it’s also called, Independence Day. Americans use it to show their patriotism and recognize the accomplishments they and the country have made since its inception, by lots of celebrations. But what should you do if you think, ‘I hate 4th of July’?

If you think ‘I hate 4th of July’, recognize you are likely in the minority, so respect others’ rights to celebrate. You can work proactively to change your feelings or choose to do other things on the 4th, which are equally acceptable. After all freedom is what the holiday is about. 

The majority of people use this day to unwind and enjoy themselves with their friends and family since many have the day off from work and school. However, not everyone will have companions, relatives, or family with whom to celebrate this day. This is only one of the numerous reasons why some individuals dislike July 4th. 

As a mom with a son serving in the military, plus two Veteran brothers, I have high patriotism for this country. But I know that is also not the case for everyone in the US. There are some who hate the 4th of July/Independence Day because of personal convictions.

In this article, I’ll address some reasons people hate 4th of July, as well as reasons we shouldn’t. Keep reading to learn about this, and some tips for handling the 4th of July if you or someone you know says ‘I hate 4th of July!’

Contents

When Someone Says ‘I Hate 4th of July’

It’s shocking for some to comprehend, but there are people in this country who say ‘I hate 4th of July.’ Why is that and what can you do if you encounter this?

Saying ‘I hate 4th of July’ is not so uncommon. Some hate it because of the hoopla, from parades to fireworks. Others hate it because it represents war and American politics, which they disagree with. Others dislike the emphasis on parties and commercialism.

If you or someone you know hates 4th of July, you can deal with it positively regardless.

If you are alone on the 4th and that’s one reason you hate it, you can be proactive about your holiday. Despite being alone, you can still celebrate. Begin by making a list of activities that you appreciate. You can accomplish these activities even if you don’t have any buddies.

You can still attend parades, fireworks, or other celebratory events alone. For one, most people won’t even notice who is alone and who is with a group because everyone’s eyes will be on the marching band or the sparks in the sky!

Also, you could take charge by inviting someone to go with you, thus taking care of being alone/lonely. You probably won’t have to look far to find someone else who just happens to be alone on the 4th too: a colleague, neighbor, or even family member.

If you aren’t the kind of person who likes to attend events alone (ask yourself how comfortable you are watching a movie in a theater by yourself to test this), then it might be better to skip some of the traditional 4th customs.

Instead, create your own fun at home.

You can plan out your day from morning to evening, finishing up by watching fireworks from your front porch or while relaxing on the sofa watching TV.

Of course, once again, you can be proactive and host your own 4th plans and invite others to attend. Think about who else might be ‘single and alone’ and ask them to come over. You can do the customary grilling hotdogs or try something new and play cards and drink beer inside, avoiding the summer heat and bugs!

Some other non-traditional things to do on the 4th are to go to the gym, see a movie, visit a museum or zoo, or catch up on home projects. The skies the limit really, as long as you are willing to think outside the box and have a positive attitude, despite thinking ‘I hate 4th of July!’

Going to the gym might be a fun way to spend your vacation, for example.

If you enjoy working out, you may go for a run in your spare time. Physical exercise boosts both your body’s capacity to utilize oxygen and the flow of blood. Both of these changes have an immediate effect on your brain. Exercise also increases endorphin production in the brain. This is the sense of well-being and exhilaration that many people experience after exercising.

Physical activity may also assist you in forgetting about your problems. Exercise’s repetitive movements urge you to focus on your body rather than your mind. By focusing on the rhythm of your motions while exercising, you may gain many of the same benefits as meditation. Concentrating on a single physical job might help you feel more energized and optimistic.

Or see a movie.

Because most individuals are preoccupied with work and other duties during a typical day, you may watch movies when you are not required to report to work or school. And since you hate celebrating Independence Day, take your time finding new movies you haven’t seen before, and binge-watch the majority, if not all. You can certainly find many patriotic movies (like The Patriot on Amazon) or watch something totally different like a scary movie or rom/com!

A nap is also an option on the 4th!

Taking a long nap is also another alternative if you don’t like celebrating July 4. Sleeping more soundly is thought to have several health benefits. Improved cardiac function, hormone maintenance, cell repair, memory enhancement, and cognitive function enhancement are benefits. 

Sleeping essentially allows your body to process everything that happened during the day, heal itself, and reset for the next day. In studies, napping has been shown to improve cognitive function, creative thinking, and memory performance. 

Naps have been shown to aid the learning process by helping us to absorb and recall information more effectively. Napping also helps to clear information from your brain’s temporary storage regions, ready it to absorb new information.

I think you might also like these related holiday articles:

Why Some Say ‘I Hate 4th of July Fireworks’

In 2021, the New York City Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks provided the biggest fireworks display in the United States Of America.

Probably the most anticipated part of celebrating Independence Day is the fireworks that culminate the holiday. However, not everyone enjoys fireworks. In fact some say ‘I hate July 4th fireworks!’

Some say ‘I hate 4th of July fireworks’ because fireworks are expensive and cause anxiety or harm. Children and pets are commonly fearful of fireworks, and both human and animal hospitals see more visits in July due to fireworks activities ranging from ingesting firework or to skin burns.

ASPCA recommends several things to help your pets during fireworks. One is to buy special blankets to help them feel comforted like this one from Amazon. They also have individual pet ‘jacket’s like this that some pets prefer.

Children also benefit from comfort blankets or vests, too. But the one advantage for children is that you can explain the reason behind the noise and help them understand what’s going on. This can decrease their anxiety related to fireworks. Unfortunately, this doesn’t work so well with your canine companions.

Another harmful effect of fireworks is that there is potential for hearing loss due to their loud noise and other hearing problems with symptoms that may include ear discomfort and ringing in the ears. To avoid hearing loss, keep at least 500 feet away from fireworks. And if this isn’t possible for some reason, use safety ear plugs.

The most frequent injury from fireworks is a burnt hand or finger. Sparks are produced by fire, which may ignite a fire or possibly burn you. Minor burns result in redness and discomfort. More severe burns cause blisters. The most severe burns result in white leathery skin and damage under the epidermis. Do not allow children to use fireworks.

The effects of fireworks on the eyes can range from minor burns to severe eyesight loss. When a firework explodes, hazardous particles are released into the air. They are capable of puncturing the eyeball. Standing too close might cause eye injury.

When working with fireworks, use protective eyewear. Even better, instead of setting off fireworks at home, attend a fireworks display. Set your distance to at least 500 feet.

And last, many dislike fireworks because of the exorbitant expense. Whether you are buying fireworks for your personal use or attending a fireworks display, it costs a lot to ‘do fireworks.’ Money, that some feel, can be better used elsewhere.

Why Some Say They’re Not Proud to be American

Some US citizens say they aren’t ‘proud to be American’ because of their perceived problems perpetuated by the US as a nation towards other countries and peoples.

Some say ‘I hate 4th of July’ because they don’t like what it represents. Independence Day symbolizes many lost lives during war; since then America has been in other wars, with additional deaths incurred. Also, to some, the US has yet to show equal freedoms to everyone, so they protest July 4th.

For some people celebrating July 4th with parties, parades, and fireworks diminishes the atrocities from the wars America has been a part of. Also, they think too many Americans are discriminated against by American politics and systems.

Unfortunately, these people protest by saying they are not proud to be American. In my opinion, this is a slap in the face to all those who fought for our country to ensure the rights of all US citizens, from freedom of religion to pursuits of happiness, and yes, to agree and disagree.

Reasons to Celebrate July 4th, Independence Day Holiday

There are many reasons to celebrate July 4th, Independence Day.

You can first celebrate because it’s honoring our nation’s freedom. You can also celebrate to recognize our nation’s long history to fight to protect our freedom and protect others, from involvement in two world wars, to more recent efforts to combat terrorism.

In addition, July 4th gives many people the day off as a national holiday. As such it’s a great time to spend with family and friends. But even if you don’t have family or friends to be with, you have the freedom to spend it however you want! 

What to do Instead of Celebrating 4th of July

And of course, there are other things you can do than celebrate the 4th of July! So if you prefer not celebrating Independence Day, the holiday actually represents your freedom to do so!

Instead of celebrating 4th of July, you can spend the day doing your regular routine or you can opt to simply do nothing. Of course, doing nothing is something, but there are non-traditional activities easy to do, such as hiking, visiting a museum or zoo, or just hanging around the house.

Other activities to do instead of celebrating 4th of July:

  • Reading, napping, cooking
  • Taking a class
  • Exercising at the gym
  • Golfing
  • Volunteering

Wrapping Up Saying ‘I hate 4th of July’

To wrap it up, there are some people who say ‘I hate 4th of July’ for various reasons. From being alone to not enjoying fireworks to political leanings, the reasons people don’t enjoy Independence Day range.

If you or someone you know dislikes celebrating the holiday, you can actively work to change that, but it’s perfectly acceptable to just do something else on July 4th.

And this is the perfect holiday to exercise the freedom to do so!

Suggestions for your next holiday articles to read:

https://www.military.com/july-4th/the-reason-we-celebrate-independence-day.html

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