The Christmas tree bonfire tradition highlights the contrast with 21st century culture. Building big fires on the street across from the police station is something that would not happen in the 21st century. The environmental regulations would define this activity as a crime.<\/p>\n
July 4th holiday traditions are lengthy and intensive<\/h2>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/theimmers.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/3\/files\/2018\/03\/main-street-Roxana-Ilinois-1998.jpg\")
Main street Roxana, Illinois 1998. A sparse<\/strong>
shopping district for out daily commerce.<\/strong>
Photo by Rodger 1998.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\nMy friends and family celebrated July 4th intensively. Fireworks provided the intensity. Fireworks were legal in your front yard or on any street in town. The bang of firework\u2019s explosions was frequent for several days before and after the 4th. My family celebrations took place in the city, on my grandparents farm, and at the Lake of the Ozarks where we had property. Cities, including small towns, provided large aerial and ground displays. One memorable example was a scene, about 10 feet long and 8 feet high, that simulated a fight between two battle ships. I remember attending only one of these. Fireworks was a participant sport and not a spectator sport.<\/p>\n
The celebration at the farm started before the 4th and culminated with an extended family gathering that started early morning on the 4th. 2 weeks of intermittent ad hoc celebrations preceded the 4th. My uncles created home made bombs from carbide, a chemical used in miners lamps. Very powerful fireworks were legal and common. Cherry bombs, named for the green fuse and the large round red shape, and silver salutes were the most popular powerful fireworks. Every year there were reports of fingers and sometimes eyes lost from their use.<\/p>\n
Fireworks the next generation<\/h2>\n
Another generation of July 4th celebrations evolved for my family in the 1980s. I live a few miles from Disneyland California. One of my favorite scenarios is a view from the monorail ride, that circles the park, during the fireworks display. My daughter’s favorite view is from a Disneyland Hotel room with the sound track piped into the room. This view is from main street<\/a>. I have lived near Disneyland California for 44 years. The sound of Disneyland fireworks is part of the ambience of my neighborhood. I set the time on the electric clock over my desk at 9:20 P.M. by the sound of the fireworks.<\/p>\nThe neighborhood spooks are friendly<\/h2>\n
Halloween was a particularly memorable holiday. The children in Roxana celebrated Halloween more intensely than Christmas. Halloween trick or treating took place on 3 days not 1. The trick or treating procedure was to visit only the houses of people that you knew. If they could guess who you were then they did not have to treat you. Of course they always treated you anyway. My neighbors usually gave treats that were home made, such as cookies or cake and sometimes fresh fruit.<\/p>\n
A costume ball for children was held at the Roxana Community Center across the street from our house. All of the children paraded their costumes in a circle in the gymnasium. My mother\u2019s attempt to get me to participate at age 5 failed. I was too shy to go in. The first costume that I remember was Batman. The costume consisted primarily of long underwear that was dyed black. My mother made a cape for the costume. The source of the mask is unknown. My wife made costumes for my children when they were 5 or 6 so the tradition of hand made costumes continued.<\/p>\n
There were socials at church throughout the year and there was one at Halloween. I remember one of the church Halloween socials that was at a member\u2019s house in North Alton. I think of the house as a very high end residence, maybe not a mansion. The owner was a single woman. I never knew what the source of income was but the house and neighborhood were far beyond our house in Roxana. There was a very large side yard and a very large lighted patio. We played Croquette on the side yard. The children attended this social in costume. I don\u2019t remember adults ever being in costume.<\/p>\n
School is out<\/h2>\n
My friends and I eagerly anticipated the date that school ended. The days were all yours, the weather was warm, and you did not have to wear shoes. The details of the shoeless days thing are not clear. I don’t remember if I was shoeless every day or just part of the time but I do remember that I liked being barefoot during the summer months. Wood River, the neighboring town, had the largest swimming pool in the world. Stanford Oil Company constructed it in 1926. The pool was about a 1 mile bicycle ride from my house. The pool was a great place to hang out and I was there 2 or 3 days every week. Swimming was the primary recreation activity for many families. There were lakes with beaches, diving towers, and picnic areas nearby. We often combined an evening of swimming with a Barbeque.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Children eagerly anticipated holidays. Children did not notice the national media presentations. Radio, TV, and film did not advertise extensively for holiday purchases. Holiday traditions childhood perspective The nature of holiday celebrations are part of the definition and character of … Continue reading
Main street Roxana, Illinois 1998. A sparse<\/strong> My friends and family celebrated July 4th intensively. Fireworks provided the intensity. Fireworks were legal in your front yard or on any street in town. The bang of firework\u2019s explosions was frequent for several days before and after the 4th. My family celebrations took place in the city, on my grandparents farm, and at the Lake of the Ozarks where we had property. Cities, including small towns, provided large aerial and ground displays. One memorable example was a scene, about 10 feet long and 8 feet high, that simulated a fight between two battle ships. I remember attending only one of these. Fireworks was a participant sport and not a spectator sport.<\/p>\n The celebration at the farm started before the 4th and culminated with an extended family gathering that started early morning on the 4th. 2 weeks of intermittent ad hoc celebrations preceded the 4th. My uncles created home made bombs from carbide, a chemical used in miners lamps. Very powerful fireworks were legal and common. Cherry bombs, named for the green fuse and the large round red shape, and silver salutes were the most popular powerful fireworks. Every year there were reports of fingers and sometimes eyes lost from their use.<\/p>\n Another generation of July 4th celebrations evolved for my family in the 1980s. I live a few miles from Disneyland California. One of my favorite scenarios is a view from the monorail ride, that circles the park, during the fireworks display. My daughter’s favorite view is from a Disneyland Hotel room with the sound track piped into the room. This view is from main street<\/a>. I have lived near Disneyland California for 44 years. The sound of Disneyland fireworks is part of the ambience of my neighborhood. I set the time on the electric clock over my desk at 9:20 P.M. by the sound of the fireworks.<\/p>\n Halloween was a particularly memorable holiday. The children in Roxana celebrated Halloween more intensely than Christmas. Halloween trick or treating took place on 3 days not 1. The trick or treating procedure was to visit only the houses of people that you knew. If they could guess who you were then they did not have to treat you. Of course they always treated you anyway. My neighbors usually gave treats that were home made, such as cookies or cake and sometimes fresh fruit.<\/p>\n A costume ball for children was held at the Roxana Community Center across the street from our house. All of the children paraded their costumes in a circle in the gymnasium. My mother\u2019s attempt to get me to participate at age 5 failed. I was too shy to go in. The first costume that I remember was Batman. The costume consisted primarily of long underwear that was dyed black. My mother made a cape for the costume. The source of the mask is unknown. My wife made costumes for my children when they were 5 or 6 so the tradition of hand made costumes continued.<\/p>\n There were socials at church throughout the year and there was one at Halloween. I remember one of the church Halloween socials that was at a member\u2019s house in North Alton. I think of the house as a very high end residence, maybe not a mansion. The owner was a single woman. I never knew what the source of income was but the house and neighborhood were far beyond our house in Roxana. There was a very large side yard and a very large lighted patio. We played Croquette on the side yard. The children attended this social in costume. I don\u2019t remember adults ever being in costume.<\/p>\n My friends and I eagerly anticipated the date that school ended. The days were all yours, the weather was warm, and you did not have to wear shoes. The details of the shoeless days thing are not clear. I don’t remember if I was shoeless every day or just part of the time but I do remember that I liked being barefoot during the summer months. Wood River, the neighboring town, had the largest swimming pool in the world. Stanford Oil Company constructed it in 1926. The pool was about a 1 mile bicycle ride from my house. The pool was a great place to hang out and I was there 2 or 3 days every week. Swimming was the primary recreation activity for many families. There were lakes with beaches, diving towers, and picnic areas nearby. We often combined an evening of swimming with a Barbeque.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Children eagerly anticipated holidays. Children did not notice the national media presentations. Radio, TV, and film did not advertise extensively for holiday purchases. Holiday traditions childhood perspective The nature of holiday celebrations are part of the definition and character of … Continue reading
shopping district for out daily commerce.<\/strong>
Photo by Rodger 1998.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\nFireworks the next generation<\/h2>\n
The neighborhood spooks are friendly<\/h2>\n
School is out<\/h2>\n