Everyone has holiday traditions that simply feel like home.
I LOVE to decorate for the holidays. In fact, let’s go about this correctly: “Hi, my name is Erikka, and I have a decorating problem.”
Christmas may have the gifts. Thanksgiving may have the turkey (and all of my nieces and 50% of my nephew’s birthdays), and Halloween may have the candy. None of them compare to the excitement I feel when it is time to pull out the red, white, and blue. Maybe – who knows? – it’s because it is summer, but it’s mostly because I love my country.
My patriotic decorations started appearing around the house in early June this year, and they will probably stay until Labor Day. Some people may think that is a little excessive, but I enjoy it.
The little twinkle fairy lights bring me so much joy.
‘The children who once chased each other through the yard carrying sparklers are now adults with lives and responsibilities of their own.‘
The children who once chased each other through the yard carrying sparklers are now adults with lives and responsibilities of their own.
Every room has a little touch of Americana. Flags wave from flowerpots. Wreaths hang from the doors. Pillows, table runners, lanterns, stars, and every shade of red, white, and blue imaginable seem to find their way into our home. Walking through the door instantly reminds me that summer has arrived.
Decorating has never really been about the decorations. It has always been about the memories.
One tradition started nearly 30 years ago when I bought my son Seth his very first Fourth of July T-shirt. It was sometime in the late 1990s. Like so many traditions, I had no idea I was starting one.
Every year after that, I found patriotic shirts for my children. When I had girls, they got outfits, hair bows, and jewelry. All in red, white, and blue. Sometimes they matched. Sometimes they did not. It really did not matter. The excitement of seeing what they would wear became just as important as the holiday itself. Those little shirts have now grown into adult sizes, but they still come.
The children who once chased each other through the yard carrying sparklers are now adults with lives and responsibilities of their own. Somehow, though, they still expect Mom to have everything ready for the Fourth. Truthfully, as much crap as I take for all my decorations, I would be disappointed if they did not look forward to it with anticipation.
The desserts have been one of my favorite parts. Payton, Alexis, and I in the kitchen making cupcakes, specialty drinks in cool glasses, trying new icing techniques were memories I hope they carry with them.
No fancy bakery could ever compete with homemade treats, like strawberry shortcake with strawberries, blueberries, and whipped cream. Every year we experimented with something new. Sometimes the desserts looked exactly as planned. Sometimes they looked like a patriotic explosion in the kitchen. Either way, they always disappeared before the fireworks started.
Then there are the supplies. Regular paper plates simply will not do. It’s not a holiday celebration without patriotic tablecloths, festive napkins, matching plates, cups, and enough decorations to make a party store proud.
‘Traditions matter.‘
That leads me to my favorite. Glow sticks. They are mandatory. Not just any glow sticks, either. They need to be red, white, and blue.
We have purchased sparklers by the box. Watching my children wave sparklers in the yard was always a fun way to spend the evening. Those tiny lights somehow capture everything wonderful about childhood. They last only a few moments, yet the memories stay with us forever. Heck, I remember doing the same by the Oakmont water tower way back in the day.
Perhaps that is why I love the Fourth of July so much. But it is bittersweet because I am reminded how quickly time passes.
The little hands reaching for glow sticks have become adult hands carrying car keys. The tiny feet running across the yard have become confident steps into careers, engagements, and new adventures. Every holiday reminds us that our children are growing up. The Fourth of July seems especially good at reminding us to enjoy every single moment before another summer slips away.
My enthusiasm is not isolated to decorations or desserts. It is about celebrating where we live.
I know our country is not perfect. No country ever has been. Every generation has faced challenges, disagreements, and difficult conversations. Even so, I still believe America is something worth celebrating.
The Fourth of July reminds us that freedom deserves gratitude. Our flag represents generations of men and women who believed this nation was worth protecting. It represents opportunities that millions around the world still dream about. Taking one day each year to celebrate that heritage feels like time well spent, especially this year on her 250th.
Perhaps that is why I have never apologized for going overboard. I like to think my neighbors smile as they drive by my patriotic porch. If someone thinks I have too many decorations, that is perfectly fine too. If my family rolls their eyes because I bought one more patriotic decoration, they know exactly what to expect from me by now.
Traditions matter.
Children may outgrow the shirts, but they never outgrow the memories. Someday, I hope my own children decorate their homes with just a little more enthusiasm because they remember what it felt like growing up in ours. Maybe they will buy patriotic shirts for their own children. Maybe they will experiment with festive desserts. Maybe they will hand out glow sticks as dusk settles in and watch little faces light up with excitement. If that happens, then the tradition continues.
This year, as I sit on the patio surrounded by every shade of red, white, and blue imaginable, I will once again be reminded that happiness is often found in the simplest traditions. A family gathered together. A table full of food. My kids, no matter how old they are, laughing together. Sparklers glowing against a summer sky. Flags gently waving in the welcome breeze.
If loving Americana, festive decorations, and every excuse to celebrate our nation’s birthday is a little over the top, then I happily plead guilty. I will keep decorating early, celebrating often, and leaving those patriotic decorations up until Labor Day.
After all, summer is short, freedom is precious, and there is never too much red, white, and blue.
Happy 250th Birthday, America.
(The cover photo is of a cupcake created by Erikka’s daughter, Payton.)
