We've come a long way since the Revolutionary War.

The 4th of July is a celebration of the day the United States declared independence from England in 1776. That means we've had 240 years to come up with 4th of July traditions and they've changed a lot over that period of time.

Here are some traditions that we take part in here in Amarillo that might not make sense to George Washington.

  • 1

    Wearing American flag accessories

    The United States Flag Codes states that the flag should never be worn as apparel or part of a costume. While by today's standards you'd never get arrested for wearing American flag earrings, George Washington would probably see them as a serious violation of the code.

  • 2

    Consuming large amounts of beef

    The 4th of July is probably the biggest day for beef in Amarillo. There are enough beef hot dogs, hamburgers, and barbecue to feed an army and most of it is consumed in one meal. However, pork and turkey were more commonly consumed in the 1770's than beef and never in a way that might suggest gluttony.

  • 3

    Enjoying a frozen treat

    Homemade ice cream and popsicles are two of the many frozen treats people in Amarillo love to have on the 4th of July. But since the first freezer wasn't invented until the 1800's, poor George Washington would be blown away by this tradition.

  • 4

    Taking a trip to the lake

    If you're one of the lucky ones. 4th of July means a weekend on the boat or jet skis. If you recall from the famous painting, boats in the 1770's were made of wood and steered with oars, not a motor, so wakeboarding was not much of a common activity.

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