13 Reasons Why July 4th Is The Best Day Of The Year

If I was a bit more ambitious, I would like to give 1776 reasons why Independence Day is the best holiday, but I think we'd all give up before the next Fourth. So instead, we'll celebrate those original colonies and the number of stripes on our Star Spangled Banner.

1. America.

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F06%2F30%2F636028998376535156-112423558_giphy.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=319&h=ee0adffc028a823e8b26c5772abd7665641b60d9ca309d4e8ab2c30c718ddc2f&size=980x&c=16480975 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F06%252F30%252F636028998376535156-112423558_giphy.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D319%26h%3Dee0adffc028a823e8b26c5772abd7665641b60d9ca309d4e8ab2c30c718ddc2f%26size%3D980x%26c%3D16480975%22%7D" expand=1]

Sure we have our flaws, like our choices for Presidential candidates, but at the end of the day, the US of A are something to celebrate.

2. It's a happy holiday.

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F06%2F30%2F6360289990147233621641145178_200.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=963&h=8263b0ec6bd07fa78f588f48919cfde60f59c7fceb80ce4aa45cbd466351ec78&size=980x&c=445203117 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F06%252F30%252F6360289990147233621641145178_200.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D963%26h%3D8263b0ec6bd07fa78f588f48919cfde60f59c7fceb80ce4aa45cbd466351ec78%26size%3D980x%26c%3D445203117%22%7D" expand=1]

Some holidays, like Memorial Day or Thanksgiving, are bittersweet or downright sad. Not this one.

3. It's not religious.

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F06%2F30%2F636029009022867199-1530962257_200%2520%281%29.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=790&h=98dc195d1a11d5ce5d86dccf32dc086d29b7feecd702f149e6545330dd775a34&size=980x&c=4061588485 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F06%252F30%252F636029009022867199-1530962257_200%252520%25281%2529.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D790%26h%3D98dc195d1a11d5ce5d86dccf32dc086d29b7feecd702f149e6545330dd775a34%26size%3D980x%26c%3D4061588485%22%7D" expand=1]

No need for religious ties here. Christmas and Easter are only celebrated by Christians, but the Fourth of July is for everyone ... except the British.

4. We're not British.

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F06%2F30%2F636029006453542322-624445834_giphy%2520%281%29.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=638&h=87b04fae04d537acdbeeda2fec37f7a06ada1ea5c1ce92101f5187495827ed2b&size=980x&c=2430596808 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F06%252F30%252F636029006453542322-624445834_giphy%252520%25281%2529.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D638%26h%3D87b04fae04d537acdbeeda2fec37f7a06ada1ea5c1ce92101f5187495827ed2b%26size%3D980x%26c%3D2430596808%22%7D" expand=1]

This one may seem like a low blow, but I personally am eager to celebrate the fact that we steered clear of that Brexit-EU mess.

5. No work.

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F06%2F30%2F636029007938875173-836763165_giphy%2520%282%29.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=560&h=dcff85ba6187f9a5e022de2d73492a56888ef8f7af47f6d811918283e3e19452&size=980x&c=2708082704 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F06%252F30%252F636029007938875173-836763165_giphy%252520%25282%2529.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D560%26h%3Ddcff85ba6187f9a5e022de2d73492a56888ef8f7af47f6d811918283e3e19452%26size%3D980x%26c%3D2708082704%22%7D" expand=1]

The banks are closed, the post office is closed and most of us get a day off from work. No Monday blues this week.

6. The weather.

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F06%2F30%2F636029028078532315-1550827305_200_s.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=469&h=0dd95a896a15b0947aad67b55ad5dc33c15e80469304b8f422ba21f437def34d&size=980x&c=2183136956 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F06%252F30%252F636029028078532315-1550827305_200_s.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D469%26h%3D0dd95a896a15b0947aad67b55ad5dc33c15e80469304b8f422ba21f437def34d%26size%3D980x%26c%3D2183136956%22%7D" expand=1]

Can anyone name a consistently more beautiful holiday? Didn't think so.

7. Fireworks.

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F06%2F30%2F6360290293572581421456221087_200%2520%286%29.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=776&h=ac03071c6b6ce86a05a991a20367d105bc71f4bf3da7dbfa95f9b05d79ea3382&size=980x&c=4136801517 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F06%252F30%252F6360290293572581421456221087_200%252520%25286%2529.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D776%26h%3Dac03071c6b6ce86a05a991a20367d105bc71f4bf3da7dbfa95f9b05d79ea3382%26size%3D980x%26c%3D4136801517%22%7D" expand=1]

Fireworks are loud, bright and beautiful, just like most Americans.

8. Parades.

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F06%2F30%2F636029019395298692-1839353694_200%2520%283%29.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=555&h=f5e523cac4aa1b0fd2f3be39e4f937b5c244108c07764b4fb421cfa851d9024d&size=980x&c=4037894817 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F06%252F30%252F636029019395298692-1839353694_200%252520%25283%2529.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D555%26h%3Df5e523cac4aa1b0fd2f3be39e4f937b5c244108c07764b4fb421cfa851d9024d%26size%3D980x%26c%3D4037894817%22%7D" expand=1]

Confetti, floats, marching bands, candy, children — what's not to love?

9. Cookouts.

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F06%2F30%2F6360290261611016761121275069_giphy%2520%286%29.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=1015&h=16705fe9fd967232582f3a385c08440e8022361530c554776b939417af0d6591&size=980x&c=1581903473 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F06%252F30%252F6360290261611016761121275069_giphy%252520%25286%2529.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D1015%26h%3D16705fe9fd967232582f3a385c08440e8022361530c554776b939417af0d6591%26size%3D980x%26c%3D1581903473%22%7D" expand=1]

Whether you're a hot dogs and hamburgers kind of family. or barbeque, or steaks, or hobo dinner, etc., nothing beats some corn on the cob on a hot summer holiday.

10. Family.

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F06%2F30%2F636029020620828529100644614_giphy%2520%284%29.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=40&h=6daf6a8a2618478a7c5f07cbf437ec34fcf5bf2f2e6eb4b123579b6fcfed0cde&size=980x&c=858110021 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F06%252F30%252F636029020620828529100644614_giphy%252520%25284%2529.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D40%26h%3D6daf6a8a2618478a7c5f07cbf437ec34fcf5bf2f2e6eb4b123579b6fcfed0cde%26size%3D980x%26c%3D858110021%22%7D" expand=1]

They may drive you crazy, but you love them anyway, and there's no better time to see your relatives than a holiday.

11. It has some good jams.

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F06%2F30%2F636029022675661061-1691139151_giphy%2520%285%29.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=880&h=cc48192d113ce85bbfb9fd153961471455efbec663d6948a54f274ebb6544cdc&size=980x&c=3542288569 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F06%252F30%252F636029022675661061-1691139151_giphy%252520%25285%2529.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D880%26h%3Dcc48192d113ce85bbfb9fd153961471455efbec663d6948a54f274ebb6544cdc%26size%3D980x%26c%3D3542288569%22%7D" expand=1]

"Yankee Doodle," "America the Beautiful," "This Land is Your Land" — the only holiday with a better playlist is Christmas. But refer to No. 3 as to why these songs are even better than those.

12. Traveling.

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F06%2F30%2F636029011984285263-1626369406_giphy%2520%283%29.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=611&h=2d9b89d9e490dd275e7d737df6339b732c7c58ed5d04bf379f4bb03fb43914c9&size=980x&c=4150715729 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F06%252F30%252F636029011984285263-1626369406_giphy%252520%25283%2529.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D611%26h%3D2d9b89d9e490dd275e7d737df6339b732c7c58ed5d04bf379f4bb03fb43914c9%26size%3D980x%26c%3D4150715729%22%7D" expand=1]

Near or far. To see family or to take a vacation. Maybe up to a family cottage on a lake. The Fourth of July weekend is the biggest travel weekend of the year in the United States

13. Freedom.

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F06%2F30%2F636029010008012058578750035_200%2520%282%29.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=505&h=0c74af88fdb958b1738ecfb302934f340a0cd75add0410d45ab3c8d3380092a6&size=980x&c=770566022 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F06%252F30%252F636029010008012058578750035_200%252520%25282%2529.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D505%26h%3D0c74af88fdb958b1738ecfb302934f340a0cd75add0410d45ab3c8d3380092a6%26size%3D980x%26c%3D770566022%22%7D" expand=1]

I don't need anyone to tell me that we're not the only country in the world who has freedom, but man am I grateful that I live in this one, the land of the free, because of the brave.