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Top 10 Reasons The 4th of July Was the Best Holiday Growing Up

It was the ultimate summer party!

Jul 02, 2019

Top 10 Reasons The 4th of July Was the Best Holiday Growing Up

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For some of us it was 10 years ago, for others it was 50 - regardless of your age, you can't deny The Fourth of July was the best part of your summer. Nowadays with busy schedules and political discourse, it's hard to appreciate the American holiday like you once did. So for today, let's take a trip down memory lane and step into the mind of your eight-year-old self, marveling over the excitement of the first week in July.

1. Sparklers, duh

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On no other holiday is it appropriate to be running around with mini torches of fire. You know you couldn't wait 'til nighttime to bust out one of these bad boys!

2. Family time

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This may be a downside to your holiday experience today, but back then you were overjoyed to see all of your cousins and siblings in one room together.

3. Fun & competitive games

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Some of the weirdest, yet most creative, games stem from the 4th of July. Like, who came up with the watermelon seed spitting contest? Water balloon fights? That strange "don't drop the egg on the spoon" race? Whatever your family traditions are, you always put your game face on for these competitions.

4. The foooooooood

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This is the day where all your favorite summer staples come together: lemonade, hotdogs, burgers, mac & cheese, watermelon, soda, popsicles, and JELL-O! Finally, the one time out of the year it's morally acceptable to bring JELL-O to a party!

5. The annual parade

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If you were lucky enough growing up to witness or participate in some sort of local parade, you felt like a movie star. Even if it was just a small neighborhood celebration, strutting your stuff on the streets while decked out in red, white, and blue was a pivotal moment in your celebrity career!

6. The outfits

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The one special day where your mom allowed you to have face-paint AND an entire stack of of American flag temporary tattoos plastered all over your body. Oh, and don't forget the beads!

7. Swimming is encouraged

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If you were fortunate enough to have a lake house or backyard pool, there was not a single minute of the day where you were dry. Lucky you!

8. Being able to stay up late and partaaaay

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On Christmas Eve, you have to go to bed early so Santa can come bring gifts. On Easter, you try to fall asleep quickly so that the Easter Bunny has time to set up your candy basket. On Thanksgiving, your too stuffed with turkey that you're in bed by 8pm. However, on the Fourth of July, you're allowed to stay up as late as you want (primarily because your parents are too tipsy to tell you otherwise)!!

9. Taking fun & goofy pictures

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For some reason, 4th of July photos always come out better than any other holiday. Maybe it's the heat exhaustion from hours upon hours in direct sunlight or the contact high from the BBQ smoke - whatever it may be, these pics will last a lifetime!

10. And finally, a fantastic firework show to end the night

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This is what it's all about: you and your family are worn out from celebrating all day, cuddled up with blankets and lawn chairs, watching the fireworks burst in front of your little eyes. Oohs and aahs are encouraged. You pick your favorite color and watch it explode. The fireworks may burn out, but these memories are branded on your heart forever.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Cool Off with These 8 Beers!

North Carolina State University

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Summer is hot and humid, and it's almost like summer was made specifically to drink the refreshing, cold, crisp wonderful, delicious, nutritious nectar of the gods. Which is none other than beer; wonderful cold beer. With summer playing peek-a-boo around the corner while we finish up this semester, it's time to discuss the only important part of summer. And if you haven't already guessed, it's beer. There are few things I take more seriously than my beer, in order are: sports... and beer. Here are my favorite summer brews:

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Recommended for you

Top 10 Reasons The 4th of July Was the Best Holiday Growing Up

It was the ultimate summer party!

1. Sparklers, duh

2. Family time

3. Fun & competitive games

4. The foooooooood

5. The annual parade

6. The outfits

7. Swimming is encouraged

8. Being able to stay up late and partaaaay

9. Taking fun & goofy pictures

10. And finally, a fantastic firework show to end the night

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Appreciation for some of life's most discredited pleasures.

1. Sun showers

2. Smiles

3. Tight hugs

4. Discovering new foods you like.

5. Laying in bed after a long day.

6. And being completely relaxed

7. "This reminded me of you"

8. Breakfast foods

9. Over-sized clothes

10. Contagious laughs

11. Car rides with that one person

12. Random (I miss you/ I love you) texts

13. The city at night

14. Surprises

15. Blanket cocoons

16. Good hair days

17. Really good coffee

18. Days where you're in a good mood naturally and for no particular reason

19. Conquering a fear

20. When they give you a lot of guac at Chipotle

21. Being so comfortable with someone that you can literally talk about anything

22. Home-cooked meals

23. Tattoo stories

24. Leaves changing color in fall

25. Butterflies in your stomach

26. Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches

27. When you can't stop laughing

Cool Off with These 8 Beers!

Coors Light Summer Brew:

Leinenkugel Summer Shandy

Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat

Want to know more about beer?

Sam Adams Summer Ale

Hell or High Watermelon

Blue Moon Summer Honey

LandShark Lager

Corona

75 degrees and sunny, plus, no humidity. I mean do I really need to say more?

Perfect Weather

You'll get an effortless tan

You can exercise with a view

You don't have to worry about bug bites

In n Out all day, every day

We have outdoor concerts

We live where people vacation

Because let's be honest, we all use lyrics.

1. “Don’t get too close, it’s dark inside. It's where my demons hide.”

2. “Tonight, we are young.”

3. “Cuz I may be bad, but I’m perfectly good at it.”

4. “Tell me how they got that pretty little face on that pretty little frame.”

5. “I can’t wait to fall in love with you, you can’t wait to fall in love with me.”

6. “Sweatpants, hair tied, chillin with no makeup on.”

7. “Why you so obsessed with me?”

8. “We ain’t ever getting older.”

9. “I didn’t know that I was starving until I tasted you.”

10. “Didn’t they tell you I’m a savage?"

11. “I’m gonna make you miss me.”

12. "Cheers to the freakin weekend.”

13. “Love’s a game. Wanna play?”

14. “You don’t know about me, but I bet you want to.”

15. “Let’s set each other’s lonely nights, Be each other’s paradise.”

16. “Trippin’ on skies, sippin’ waterfalls."

17. “Wish we could turn back time, to the good old days.”

18. “But you will remember me for centuries.”

19. “Something about you makes me feel like a dangerous woman."

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1. "Talk about a dream
Try to make it real
You wake up in the night
With a fear so real
Spend your life waiting
For a moment that just don't come
Well don't waste your time waiting." (Badlands)