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Fourth Of July: Should We Get The Whole Week Off?

Author Lauren Beckham Falcone
Happy 4th of July Independence Day, Hand holding Sparkler fireworks USA celebration with American flag background. Concept of Fourth of July, Independence Day, Fireworks, Sparkler, Memorial, Veterans

Fourth of July break is here, and we could use a break.

Ready for the Fourth of July? It looks like many of us are already in vacation mode. (I am.)

But I’m not alone.

A whopping 45% of American workers admit they won’t get much done this week. If you’re one of them, you’re definitely part of the mailing-it-in society.

So, with so many people mentally checked out, why not just take the whole week off?

Turns out, half of Americans agree. A survey shows that 49% of workers think companies should shut down for the entire week of July 4th. This idea is especially popular with younger folks—61% of Millennials and Gen Z’ers are all for it, compared to just 32% of older workers.

Interestingly, 56% of young people believe that working during the week of the Fourth should be seen as “taboo” in work culture. They might be onto something. After all, 35% of people think they’d be more productive for the rest of the year if they got a full week off in July. Plus, 28% say they’d work harder, and 22% would even recommend their company to friends and family.

If you’re eagerly counting down the days to your break, you’re in good company—75% of people are looking forward to it too. However, not everyone is so lucky. Only 34% of workers will get two or more days off this week, and just 10% will get the entire week off. Most people will at least get Thursday off, with only 22% of companies staying open on the Fourth.

Why do we celebrate the Fourth of July?

July 4th, also known as Independence Day in the United States, is celebrated to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. On this day, the thirteen American colonies declared their independence from British rule, marking the birth of the United States of America. The Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration, drafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson, which proclaimed the colonies’ separation from Great Britain and articulated their right to self-governance.

Traditional July 4th celebrations include fireworks, barbecues, parades, and family gatherings. Many people head to the beach, attend concerts, or enjoy picnics in the park. It’s a time to relax, have fun, and celebrate America’s independence.

So, if you’re one of the fortunate ones with a break, enjoy every moment! Light up the grill, watch some fireworks, and soak in the summer vibes. Happy 4th!

Lauren Beckham Falcone is the co-host of Bob & LBF in the Morning. Formerly an award-winning reporter and columnist for the Boston Herald, she credits her current success as a pop culture commentator to watching too much TV as a kid and scouring the internet too much as an adult. LBF is a regular contributor to NECN and is an honorary board member at the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress. Lauren lives in Canton with her husband Dave and her daughter Lucy. Lauren writes about trending topics, New England destinations, and seasonal DIY.

The Top 5 Movies To Watch On The 4th Of July

If you are rained in on the 4th of July and are looking for a movie to watch to while away the hours and wait for the fireworks, experts have put together a list of the top movies to watch.

What is remarkable about the list is, that all of them were made prior to 2000 and reaching way back to the 70’s. It’s interesting that there are non in the top 5 movies to watch on the 4th of July that were made in this millennium. Does that mean we or Hollywood are not as patriotic as we once were?

If you look at the extended list of the top 20 movies to watch on the 4th of July you will see that 7 that made the list. Those are, “Captain America”, 2011, “Lincoln”, 2012, “National Treasure”, 2004, “Hamilton”, 2020, “Live Free or Die Hard”, 2007, “The Patriot”, 2000 and “Remember The Titans”, 2000.

So, as you can see, we still like seeing all-American movies, in fact, Top Gun 2 didn’t take place on or around the 4th, it certainly was a very patriotic movie that has to date made over a billion dollars worldwide.

All American movies for the 4th of July

What makes a great 4th of July movie? For one thing it has to have a semblance of patriotism or it takes place around the day. In some cases they are based around the idea of American exceptionalism and what it means to fight for your country.

Of course all of these movies are considered classics you have probably seen more than once and are readily available on one or more streaming services. Before you pay to see any of them, you should look at the cable guide first because there’s a good chance that they may be on tv for free. Now that’s the American dream.

Here are the top 5 movies to watch on the 4th of July

  • 5. Rocky 1976

    The original Rocky was literally draped in the American Flag, check out the movie poster, it’s all American. The movie came out in 1976 our country’s bi-centennial year, so it had to be a very inspiring movie to honor the 4th. Of course, Rocky 4 was also patriotic with the bout taking place against a big Russian boxer.

  • 4. The Sandlot 1993

    The team plays a Fourth of July night game by the light of fireworks, and Smalls observes that, to Benny, “baseball was life.” Later, they play against a snooty rival Little League team, and win handily. That night they celebrate at a fair, where chewing tobacco shared by Bertram before riding the Trabant causes them to vomit.

  • 3. Independence Day 1996

    This is the ultimate fight for independence and the very survival of not just America, but the entire world. For such a heavy concept for a movie, it sure is fun! Always worth a rewatch because the movie was made before the total takeover of GCI and all the action looks amazing.

  • 2. Top Gun 1986

    The original Top Gun came out at the same time that a lot of anti-war movies were dominating Hollywood, movies like Full Metal Jacket and Platoon were anything but pro-America, so it was refreshing for people to see a movie that made you proud to be an American. Of course, Top Gun 2 came out a few years ago and was monster hit again for the franchise. Look for more Top Guns to come.

  • 1. Jaws 1975

    This movie takes place on the 4th of July in the fictional beach town of Amity. We all know that it filmed on Martha’s Vineyard where the red, white and blue is celebrated in a big way and the mayor wants to make darn sure the beaches are open and the fireworks will go off. Jaws has become a period piece now with it’s sun splashed beaches and everything that was a typical 4th of July in America circa 1975.

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Author Lauren Beckham Falcone
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