a fireworks-free fourth

I don't like fireworks.

When I was a child, I remember enjoying some 4th of July fireworks. I especially liked the little snakes you could grow on the sidewalk. And sparklers, of course, because I was allowed to hold them. And these fireworks that made Chinese lanterns because I could then hang them in my room.

But even as a child, that was about it. Sometimes we would go to big fireworks displays along the river instead of doing 4th of July at home. I wasn't impressed. Or amazed. Or anything close. I was bored, hot, and rather annoyed with the crowds.

Now, as an adult, I see major drawbacks to fireworks at home. First of all, I have to wonder what is in those fireworks, all made in China as they are. I spend so much time (and money)  trying to improve my soil and our land and grow organically. I obsessively check labels in the store to avoid chemicals in our food, our toiletries and even our cleaning supplies. Do I then want to explode unlabeled bundles of toxic chemicals in our own space?

Um, no.

But even more importantly perhaps, is the total and absolute waste of money that fireworks are. The first year we lived here, we thought how fun it would be to go and buy the fireworks that are legal to shoot off here, but illegal in the state we moved from. My husband had a good and steady income, and we had a little in savings, so we bought a big pack of fireworks and invited some of our friends over.

The fireworks package cost us $175. It took us about an hour to let off $175 worth of fireworks. The children were bored after about 20 minutes. At the end, even we were bored, but we wanted to get through the pack. The smoke smelled horrible and at some point early on, I had to move away from it all with the baby, who kept coughing.

I kept looking at the sky, seeing those bursts of light as dollar bills. We were literally blowing up our money in the sky. I was ashamed. It was a blatant display of Western excess and it was shameful. I vowed I wouldn't let that happen again.

So, this year, we have different plans for the 4th of July. For years, I've wanted to find other ways to make the day special besides fireworks, and finally, I've gathered a few activities that I think will fit the bill.

First on our agenda, we will bake. After all, what is the 4th of July without a flag cake? I remember my sweet grandma making one of these every year. While I could give or take the fireworks, the cake was always eagerly anticipated. Plus, she usually let me help decorate. One berry for the cake, one for me, one for the cake....

Next, we might try this fun little fireworks in a jar experiment that's been circulating lately.

If the children aren't interested in that one, then we might try to build little bug houses for fireflies. They have been wanting to make a firefly nightlight for a long time now. Just for one night, I think that would be okay.

I'm curious to see what would happen if we added a little food coloring to a jar of bubbles. Might they make colored bubbles? We shall see.

If the evening proves cool enough to sit outside, we'll build a little bonfire for making s'mores-in-a-cone. I found a great deal on organic ice cream cones online, so we now have 144 ice cream cones sitting in our pantry. Wait, correction: 132. One full box has already  been enjoyed.

And finally, the crowning glory for my little ones: I have given them my full permission to stay up as late as they wish. No bedtime! May the firefly catching continue until they fall down from sleepy exhaustion and may they rest peacefully in their beds to the loud drone and swift breeze of window fans.

What a lovely summer day that would be! For me, as an adult, it might just be one of the few times I will have enjoyed the 4th of July holiday.

And when I think back to little me, as a child, if you add some beautiful cousins, take away some silly fireworks, these things - baking with grandma, roasting marshmallows over small fires, running after fireflies, letting it all go to the wind of a loud and constant fan - they are what I remember most. Long and lovely summer days.

What other plans besides fireworks do you have for the 4th of July?