Happy Holidays! Yes, You Read It Right.

I hope you are having a great holiday season.  Confused?  Maybe it is because you have forgotten that Independence Day (aka, the Fourth of July) is also a holiday.  I can even say “Happy Holidays” in the plural sense because Flag Day and Juneteenth both occurred less than three weeks ago.  Some of us have been brainwashed by the advertising industry through its use of the word “holiday” when they really mean “Christmas.”  That is the day that I and most of my fellow Christians observe the birth of our Savior.  Many non-Christians observe Christmas related customs.  I also recognize that there are other holidays close to Christmas such as Thanksgiving Day and New Year’s Day as well as holidays in that time of the year observed by people of other faiths such as Hanukkah.  More on that in a blog I may post during that season.

            Right now, I want to invite you to think of this as a wonderful summer holiday season.  But rather than being characterized by turkey, ham, and other warm traditional foods cooked and eaten indoors, these summer holidays are known for barbecues, watermelon, and other traditional foods that are often cooked on an outdoor grill and eaten outdoors.  In fact, the summer holiday season has a totally different feel to it.  The Fourth of July is one of the longest daylight days of the year and swimming and jumping through sprinklers are both refreshing activities.  All of this is possible because although it may get hot this time of the year, especially in my part of the country, the weather is still generally tolerable.

            Labor Day, although two months from the Fourth of July, has similar eating customs.  It is the last of the summer holidays and is followed two months later by Halloween which in turn reminds us to get ready for the winter holiday season.

            Everyone have a happy and safe (summer) holiday season.