When did the 4th of July become so commercialized ?

[btcgolong]

Yes it's a celebration, we have to consume stuff like beer and hotdogs; and watch fireworks.

BUT

I was in Home Depot and the employees were covering prices for a Fourth of July sale, like it's black Friday or something...when did this happen?


I guess in America it's a slow crawl to commercialization of everything holy or revered.


In America, we have a "go out and spend" events/holiday almost every month

Please add to:

Jan - New Years Day
Feb - Valentines Day, President's Day (was G Washington's B-day)
March - University Spring Break, [got to be something else...please add]
April - Elementary and High School Spring Break, Secretaries Day (YES...Secretaries Day) - also Jefferson's birthday (old)
May - Memorial Day Sales / Mother's Day
June - Father's Day
July - 4th of July
Aug- Vacations and Back to school
Sept - Labor Day Sales
Oct - Columbus Day sales
Nov - Thanksgiving Day (Black Friday - big one)
Dec - X-mas (big big big)



For non-Americans is it similar in your country ?

[iluvpie60]

From what I have seen and grown up around, 4th of July has always been about having hotdogs/hamburgers, having some kind of BBQ or cookout, sugary desserts, fireworks, and flags.

There are always flags everywhere from what I see.  Not many people talk about it being our independence day though, but I think about it and talk about it to others at least.

It is a corporate thingi for sure though. Wish it wasn't like this, but hey, Merica!

Happy 4th!

[joebrook]

Yes it's a celebration, we have to consume stuff like beer and hotdogs; and watch fireworks.

BUT

I was in Home Depot and the employees were covering prices for a Fourth of July sale, like it's black Friday or something...when did this happen?


I guess in America it's a slow crawl to commercialization of everything holy or revered.


In America, we have a "go out and spend" events/holiday almost every month

Please add to:

Jan - New Years Day
Feb - Valentines Day, President's Day (was G Washington's B-day)
March - University Spring Break, [got to be something else...please add]
April - Elementary and High School Spring Break, Secretaries Day (YES...Secretaries Day) - also Jefferson's birthday (old)
May - Memorial Day Sales / Mother's Day
June - Father's Day
July - 4th of July
Aug- Vacations and Back to school
Sept - Labor Day Sales
Oct - Columbus Day sales
Nov - Thanksgiving Day (Black Friday - big one)
Dec - X-mas (big big big)



For non-Americans is it similar in your country ?

Not at all, but isn't it what American culture is all about, they spend and spend heavily on these holidays and that's what keep their economy going, they brainwash people into buying more and more things thay they don't even need.

[LTU_btc]

Everything is commercialized in USA and 4th July isn't exception. It's like part of American culture - special days with huge sales. And business are using these days to sell as much stuff as they can. Now we can see how this commercial culture are expanding to other countries.

[Lancusters]

A very large part of the US economy is the service sector and trade. What is wrong is that the government supports these industries? BBQ the fresh air is not just the process of eating food. This process of communication and unites the family.

[soccerisbig78]

Since always, the problem is time. More products and ideas are given to be sold at events/holidays, so it becomes more commercial.

[squatz1]

The big thing that's always been about holidays has been businesses being able to make a shit ton of money off of it, and every holiday pretty much has the industry that is able to capitalize on it. Sad to say I guess, but when you think about it these holidays would be less important without certain industries being able to make a shit ton of money off of the holidays being as big as it is. Think about it, what would the 4th of July be like without fireworks, what would Christmas be without tons of toys and presents?

Sad, but that's the world we live in today.

[killgald]

Thats the part of the capitalism, the big companies see profits in this national days and take advantage by droping the prices of old products to sell them and get rit of them and winning some money will doing this.

[darkangel11]

Yes it's similar here in Europe. I remember we used to visit my grandparents grave on all saint's day, and recently they started to sell popcorn, sausages, beer and similar things near every graveyard. It became a feast and a way to make money. Every holiday is now a money making machine.

[btcgolong]

Yes it's a celebration, we have to consume stuff like beer and hotdogs; and watch fireworks.

BUT

I was in Home Depot and the employees were covering prices for a Fourth of July sale, like it's black Friday or something...when did this happen?


I guess in America it's a slow crawl to commercialization of everything holy or revered.


In America, we have a "go out and spend" events/holiday almost every month

Please add to:

Jan - New Years Day
Feb - Valentines Day, President's Day (was G Washington's B-day)
March - University Spring Break, [got to be something else...please add]
April - Elementary and High School Spring Break, Secretaries Day (YES...Secretaries Day) - also Jefferson's birthday (old)
May - Memorial Day Sales / Mother's Day
June - Father's Day
July - 4th of July
Aug- Vacations and Back to school
Sept - Labor Day Sales
Oct - Columbus Day sales
Nov - Thanksgiving Day (Black Friday - big one)
Dec - X-mas (big big big)



For non-Americans is it similar in your country ?

Not at all, but isn't it what American culture is all about, they spend and spend heavily on these holidays and that's what keep their economy going, they brainwash people into buying more and more things thay they don't even need.

It has been said that the USA's economy (spending and debt) powers the world economy...China is up there now as well.

[audaciousbeing]

Yes it's a celebration, we have to consume stuff like beer and hotdogs; and watch fireworks.

BUT

I was in Home Depot and the employees were covering prices for a Fourth of July sale, like it's black Friday or something...when did this happen?


I guess in America it's a slow crawl to commercialization of everything holy or revered.


In America, we have a "go out and spend" events/holiday almost every month

Please add to:

Jan - New Years Day
Feb - Valentines Day, President's Day (was G Washington's B-day)
March - University Spring Break, [got to be something else...please add]
April - Elementary and High School Spring Break, Secretaries Day (YES...Secretaries Day) - also Jefferson's birthday (old)
May - Memorial Day Sales / Mother's Day
June - Father's Day
July - 4th of July
Aug- Vacations and Back to school
Sept - Labor Day Sales
Oct - Columbus Day sales
Nov - Thanksgiving Day (Black Friday - big one)
Dec - X-mas (big big big)



For non-Americans is it similar in your country ?

I would have been happy if what is happening over there is happening over here as a result of the celebration of Independence Day because it actually shows that even in the face of difficulties, US citizens have one day, they get to do a uniform celebration which is something that is not common in all countries. Commercializing it is just to make it more encompassing rather than a situation where people just get to sit at home and watch TVs or even go to work because they cannot affprd to stay out of work for that one day.

[ExcuseMee2]

It's just their day when they can celebrate something "big", so people see this as an oppotunity to sell more products.

[LTU_btc]

Yes it's similar here in Europe. I remember we used to visit my grandparents grave on all saint's day, and recently they started to sell popcorn, sausages, beer and similar things near every graveyard. It became a feast and a way to make money. Every holiday is now a money making machine.

Wow, I don't it's good place to sell these products near graveyard. We should to show respect to dead people, not to make business. In my country people near graveyards only swlling flowers, candles and other graveyard stuff.

[gabmen]

Yes it's similar here in Europe. I remember we used to visit my grandparents grave on all saint's day, and recently they started to sell popcorn, sausages, beer and similar things near every graveyard. It became a feast and a way to make money. Every holiday is now a money making machine.

Wow, I don't it's good place to sell these products near graveyard. We should to show respect to dead people, not to make business. In my country people near graveyards only swlling flowers, candles and other graveyard stuff.

These stuffs are part of celebrations and it makes the occassion a bit more festive so i don't really think there's anything wrong. Independence should be celebrated and though i understand that some would feel gloomy considering the price our forefathers paid for this independence, we must celebrate it by enjoying what they gave us and remembering them.

[Iranus]

Banks are incentivised to have people going into debt all the time, because giving out loans is how new money is introduced into the economy.  This is why it becomes more and more convenient to go deep into debt with credit cards and other loan systems.

At the same time, companies are incentivised to have people going into debt all the time, because the debt is needed to sustain their crazy amounts of profit.

For companies to do this, they offer deals which only apply on certain days that people regard to be "special".  The company reduces prices so that people feel that they are getting a discount on goods by buying on those days - but in reality, people are spending more by buying products that they otherwise wouldn't have bought.

All of this commercialisation of various holidays will get worse and worse because both the banks and companies are incentivised to push people further and further into debt based on currency which has no intrinsic value.

[Cyberbits]

Jul 3, 2015

[lampix]

Not sure, but at least you get a day off of work

[iapple571]

Every year it becomes more and more commercialized, so don't struggle now. You still need to see the following years. haha

[Moloch]

I find it ironic that America celebrates its "independence" by buying 99% of their flags and fireworks from China