The 4th Of July: A Family Dinner Table Talk

July 4th: A Family Dinner Table Talk

This week's Family Dinner Table Talk, from HuffPost and The Family Dinner book:

The Fourth of July is a treasured American holiday for many reasons. It is a time for people to display their patriotism, for neighbors to reconnect at local parades and gatherings and for families and friends to cherish time together. July 4th, 1776 was the day that the Declaration of Independence was signed. The previous day, John Adams wrote to his wife:

"[This] will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more."

So, as you grill your hot dogs and celebrate with fireworks in a few days, remember that the holiday should be about fun, but also about tradition and the birth of our nation. Hopefully John Adams, if he were alive today, would be very proud.

How do you demonstrate your patriotism? Why is July 4th special to you? How do you celebrate the holiday? How do you think July 4th evolved since 1776? How did your parents celebrate the holiday growing up? Why are traditions important? What are some other traditions you keep? How do traditions start?

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To see last week's Family Dinner Download, click here.

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For more tips and recipes, check out The Family Dinner: Great Ways to Connect with Your Kids, One Meal at a Time by Laurie David and Kirstin Uhrenholdt (thefamilydinnerbook.com).

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