The 4th of July in Germany
Yeah... It's not fun.
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The 4th of July in Germany
Celebrating the 4th of July in Germany (or any other foreign country, I would imagine) is different. It's almost a sad holiday here, because it's yet another reminder that we are not in America. But we try to make the most of it.
Obviously, the 4th of July is not a holiday in Germany. So the kids still have school and homework, and my mom still has to go to work. We still have to deal with the normal everyday routine. We still attempt to make the day as special as we can. This includes wearing patriotic clothing, making banners and hanging up flags, having typical American food, and listening to patriotic among other things. Although this is not altogether unusual behavior for the 4th of July under normal circumstances, it is rather conspicuous here in Germany. Not only do Germans not celebrate the American Independence Day (for obvious reasons), but they cannot understand the "big deal" that we make of the holiday.
Germans are not patriotic. At all. Generally, they don't see anything in their country that's worth being proud of unless it's related to soccer. Also, if they act patriotic at all, they are accused of being Nazis. While I find it very sad that so many Germans are even ashamed of their nationality, they cannot understand how anyone else would want to be patriotic, either. So, when we have flags and banners and patriotic music, they wonder what's wrong with us. Someone even told my dad today that our celebration reminded him of the way they celebrated Hitler's birthday. (Although, I must admit, I'm not entirely certain what that is supposed to mean...)
We have our small celebration with hamburgers and s'mores in spite of what others think of us, though. (Contrary to apparent popular German belief that Americans have turkey for the 4th of July...) So we have our lunch and are then forced to get back to our regular activities for the day. We don't even get any fireworks.
Obviously, the 4th of July is not a holiday in Germany. So the kids still have school and homework, and my mom still has to go to work. We still have to deal with the normal everyday routine. We still attempt to make the day as special as we can. This includes wearing patriotic clothing, making banners and hanging up flags, having typical American food, and listening to patriotic among other things. Although this is not altogether unusual behavior for the 4th of July under normal circumstances, it is rather conspicuous here in Germany. Not only do Germans not celebrate the American Independence Day (for obvious reasons), but they cannot understand the "big deal" that we make of the holiday.
Germans are not patriotic. At all. Generally, they don't see anything in their country that's worth being proud of unless it's related to soccer. Also, if they act patriotic at all, they are accused of being Nazis. While I find it very sad that so many Germans are even ashamed of their nationality, they cannot understand how anyone else would want to be patriotic, either. So, when we have flags and banners and patriotic music, they wonder what's wrong with us. Someone even told my dad today that our celebration reminded him of the way they celebrated Hitler's birthday. (Although, I must admit, I'm not entirely certain what that is supposed to mean...)
We have our small celebration with hamburgers and s'mores in spite of what others think of us, though. (Contrary to apparent popular German belief that Americans have turkey for the 4th of July...) So we have our lunch and are then forced to get back to our regular activities for the day. We don't even get any fireworks.
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Well, Washington has been gratuitously compensated like forever by the credit companies.
Well, Washington has been gratuitously compensated like forever by the credit companies.
Aww, it sounds like your day wasn't too fun, Heidi. I'm glad that your family still does their best to celebrate, even though you're far from home! And I learned something today about the difference between Thanksgiving and the 4th of July.
I'm glad that you at least had the AIO episodes to help you celebrate, Rodenyrathbone!
I'm glad that you at least had the AIO episodes to help you celebrate, Rodenyrathbone!
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Well, I can sympathize with you, Heidi.
Mexicans may jump at any chance they can get to party, but the 4th of July is not one of them. We did get those loud banging things that they have the audacity to call fireworks, though.
My Mother didn't even know that it was the 4th of July. That was kind of tragic.
Mexicans may jump at any chance they can get to party, but the 4th of July is not one of them. We did get those loud banging things that they have the audacity to call fireworks, though.
My Mother didn't even know that it was the 4th of July. That was kind of tragic.
don't forget the rain.
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I can sympathize. Here in Rome, 4th of July isn't acknowledged - although there is little reason why it should be.
We "attempted" to celebrate by grilling hamburgers etc, but for some reason the meat was a little questionable. We ended up sticking to the 'traditional' favourites of pasta, fish and gelato.
Happy (belated) 4th of July!
We "attempted" to celebrate by grilling hamburgers etc, but for some reason the meat was a little questionable. We ended up sticking to the 'traditional' favourites of pasta, fish and gelato.
Happy (belated) 4th of July!
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Excellent diplomatic relations not withstanding, it would be a little peculiar to find a fireworks show celebrating the loss of the colonies in England. If any of you recall the Reagan funeral service, however, perhaps you'll remember that a British military band performed the Star-Spangled Banner. Amusingly, they played four verses, whereas the National Anthem only has three. One of the original stanzas was dropped during WWII, since, fighting alongside the British, we no longer thought it polite to sing about British blood blotting out their foul footstep's pollution, or reminding them of their use of German mercenaries ("the hiring and slave").Puss n Boots wrote:lIVING IN eNGLAND WE DIdnt do much last year we went to another American famils h
ouse for dinner.
This year we had a nice dinner BBQ chicken, backed Potatoes ,corn onthe cob etc.
And that was about it.
My did looked for fireworks but couldnt find any.
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When I was in Ireland last summer, I realized how much 4th of July meant to me, even though I had never really thought about it before and how much I took it for granted before. I felt so .....alone over there! No fireworks....no family getting together...no sense of togetherness or celebration.
Glad you were at least able to celebrate with your family!
Glad you were at least able to celebrate with your family!
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Is there a 4th of July in Canada Catspaw?Catspaw wrote:Aww, it sounds like your day wasn't too fun, Heidi. I'm glad that your family still does their best to celebrate, even though you're far from home! And I learned something today about the difference between Thanksgiving and the 4th of July.
I'm glad that you at least had the AIO episodes to help you celebrate, Rodenyrathbone!
Peri: Do you mean the TARDIS is malfunctioning again?
The Doctor: Malfunctioning? [pause] Malfunctioning? MALFUNCTIONING!?
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