Is No Holiday Special?

[Karen]

Friday is July 4th - America's Independence Day. National Holiday, not based on religion, like Christmas, or anything else, it's the day we celebrate our independence.

And I am personally quite appalled that the supermarkets have signs up that they will be open "normal hours," that retail places are planning on being open, that so many people are going to have to work on July 4th!

Is NO day set aside as being special any more?

I implore you all (who are living in America) NOT to shop on July 4th. Buy all your supplies the day before, stock up on lemondade, and prepare to relax for the day. If all these establishments lose money that day, maybe they'll get the hint.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Makes me mad (despite a certain devil's advocate saying "but they ARE celebrating - with capitalizm").

[CamCamPup33]

i agree all the way karen! I wont be shopping that day! As if independence day really doesnt matter? Ugh......

[Kfamr]

The forth and Halloween are the only holidays i ever really liked. The forth isn't the same without being in Michigan with my family. It doesn't even seem like it's around the 4th of July.:( I normally don't go shopping anyways. :p

[joycenalex]

dear karen, i'll accept your idea and not shop on the holiday. i make it a point to listen to npr in the morning (around 10 est) and listen to the yearly re-reading of the declaration of independance. still gives me chills, even after reading it/hearing it all of these years.

[tikeyas_mom]

I have never celibrated independence.. day Geeze I cant even spell it, lol. But it is impirtant to americans, I think it should be considered a holiday, just like Canada Day is considered a holiday here in Canada. I guess it isnt that big of deal in Canada, at least to my family, no offence. I am baby sitting on July 4th, I love babysitting Marlin and Solomon *twin babies* .. there mom and dad are going to see the tumonator 3. I cant wait!!!!!!! :D.

[Logan]

You bring up an excellent point, Karen! It's sad that in today's society, many people miss that point too! No shopping for us either. We will celebrate and remember with friends on Independence Day!

[popcornbird]

Don't go shopping on July 4th? :eek::eek: That's when all the BIG sales are! July 4th IS a holiday and everyone celebrates, but I don't see how shopping on that day means it isn't a special holiday. :confused: Everyone around here is getting 4 days off. Maybe not people who work in stores because they are having such big sales, but other workers are off for the day, if not for the entire 4 days. I respect your opinion, but everything's on sale and well, we usually shop on this day if we're not gone on vacation. Its when we are all free, have no work, the whole family's at home, and we usually go to the park or walk in the forests nearby, and sometimes go shopping for the sales. In the evening, we enjoy watching the fireworks from home. (We live right by a park where the city does fireworks every year. Its so close to our house that from the window, it looks like the fireworks are falling on us. Very beautiful.) Other than the fireworks, its a long weekend to spend time with the family on go on little trips here and there for us. Again, I respect your opinion, but I don't see how shopping makes it any less special. Its our independance, and everyone knows that. I just don't believe shopping makes it any other day, other than what it is. Around here, EVERYONE shops, and the fireworks and 4 days weekend is what makes it different from other days, what marks the independance. :p If you mean that the shop workers need a vacation on this day too, then I truely understand what you're saying. They deserve the day off as well.

[lovemyshiba]

I know what you mean--everything seems to be open every day here.

We're open this Friday, and I have to work. Probably only about 4 hours, and we're closing early to watch the fireworks, but how many people go out to eat on the 4th of July?? I guess I'll find out.

[kittens]

going out to eat and to a movie on the 4th:) :D

[Karen]

Originally posted by popcornbird
Don't go shopping on July 4th? :eek::eek: That's when all the BIG sales are! July 4th IS a holiday and everyone celebrates, but I don't see how shopping on that day means it isn't a special holiday. :confused:(snip) If you mean that the shop workers need a vacation on this day too, then I truely understand what you're saying. They deserve the day off as well.

Exactly my point. For you to be able to shop, many many people have to work, instead of having the day off for a holiday with THEIR loved ones. It's not just the cashier, it's the store manager, the people who stock shelves, the custodial staff, the cashiers and the assistant managers/closers who close the place. And that's just for one store!!!!

My Dad always worked holidays, because before retirement he was a stationary engineer, and I understood that people NEED eletricity, even on holidays. But do they NEED to shop? Eat at a restaurant? No.

That's my point.

[kittens]

well no we don't HAVE to eat out, but that is a holiday to us, its how we celebrate a holiday, as is our choice. I don't go out that often to restaurants at least not that kind, or to the movie theatre, so its a treat and not something to criticize.

[wolf_Q]

I have to work on the 4th of July. :( I really don't want to, I wanted to go to the parade and the balloon festival.


Exactly my point. For you to be able to shop, many many people have to work, instead of having the day off for a holiday with THEIR loved ones. It's not just the cashier, it's the store manager, the people who stock shelves, the custodial staff, the cashiers and the assistant managers/closers who close the place. And that's just for one store!!!!

See PCB when you are enjoying your 4 days off think of poor me having to work and not getting to spend time with MY family. :(

I've never heard of anyone getting 4 days off for the 4th of July...at least nobody I know ever has.

Stupid Petco is open ALL the time....Sundays....I had to work Christmas Eve...New Years Eve...New Years Day...I swear they were even open on Thanksgiving.

[Cheshirekatt]

I'm working of the fourth, but it's by choice. Friday is my normal day off so I chose to work because there happened to be a station available.

I'll be off at 5 pm, in time to participate in the neighborhood cook out and pyromania. :)

[popcornbird]

Originally posted by wolf_Q
I have to work on the 4th of July. :( I really don't want to, I wanted to go to the parade and the balloon festival.



See PCB when you are enjoying your 4 days off think of poor me having to work and not getting to spend time with MY family. :(

I've never heard of anyone getting 4 days off for the 4th of July...at least nobody I know ever has.

Stupid Petco is open ALL the time....Sundays....I had to work Christmas Eve...New Years Eve...New Years Day...I swear they were even open on Thanksgiving.

Really Amy? :eek: :( OMG! Over here like EVERYONE is off, other than people who work in stores. (the 4 days is 2 weekdays, + Saturday and Sunday) I never realized it, but now that I come to think of it, people working in stores, like you for example, must feel horrible having to work when everyone else has the day off. :( I was planning on buying the tiels a play gym from Petco because its supposed to be on sale, but Karen really got me thinking about the store workers. I feel bad to shop while they have to work, and we're all enjoying the long weekend. Maybe I'll buy it sometime later. Anyway Amy, I'll be thinking about you since you don't get the day off. :( We were planning on driving and spending the weekend away from home; maybe drive to neighboring states just for sightseeing, or somewhere, but we're quite unsure of it. We might just stay at home and watch the fireworks.

I understand what your saying now Karen. Sorry that I misunderstood you. Its just that all my friends have been talking about the 4th of July sales and how they're going to go on a shopping spree. :rolleyes: I think I'll tell them to think about the people working in stores and not being able to spend time with their families. Maybe they'll change their mind also. :)

On the good side, I went to the library today and there was a sign that said they'll be closed on the 4th and 5th of July. At least the librarians get vacation. :p

[kittens]

it usually is the retail people that have to work,(and restaurants ) my father was in retail and he always had to work. my brother too. me also for a while.
I do understand the idea of not shopping so they get the idea,
but I don't thik that will happen. the 4th is a time to have barbeques and spend time with family and friends. that's usually what we would do , but this year it is just my mother and I and we don't want to barbeque , I offered to but she wants to go to a rib restaurant, I'd think she just didn't trust my bbq ability but she's been talking about this place for a while...

anyway happy fourth of July everyone:)

[Vio&Juni]

I don't have to work tomorrow too. I work for an USAID projects and we get some of the important US holidas and some of ours (almost all). I used to work in a travel agency and I hated and really couldn't understand why we had to be open absolutely everyday when there were so many flights cancelled on big holidays.

:) I am invited to the 4th of July party at the US Embassy here. I had an invitation 2 years ago also. LOVED it!

[RICHARD]

working in a union shop was nice because we were paid 2.5 times the regular rate....

so if you made 10 an hour, holidays were 25 bucks
an hour!!!

also if you are single or not around family working gets your mind off of that.

the downside is that after a while you would see that the taxes on the extra money was not worth your time.....

[dogzzz]

I work for the US Post Office. In my town it takes 6 people to run it on closed days. This includes the 4th of July. All holidays. There are many businesses that do not take holidays off. The Armed Forces is a BIG one. Not everyone can take holidays off and still have America be America. If the world took holidays off we would be in big trouble.
Be glad you have a job, even if it is on the 4th of July.

[Cookiebaker]

Growing up, the 4th, Memorial Day, Veterans Day was just seen as a time to play...a day off from school...and certainly nothing I would consider "special". That was until a couple of years ago when I worked at the local VA hospital. Daily working around people (and hearing their stories) who gave their sweat and blood....sometimes a limb...sometimes their good health FOR ME and FOR YOU helped to give me an insight into who gave us our freedom, and at what cost. These holidays that at one time didn't seem too important have really taken on new meaning, and I like to spend some time to remember what it really means to have freedom. I hope what I am trying to say comes across right because sometimes it's hard to put feelings into words.

[joycenalex]

i've spent many holidays working, retail, and then the hospital. i'm an x ray technologist, and this was usually a busy day through the er and the inhouse patients. the EMTs, paramedics, fire and police, city services, they all do it 24/7/365. please thank any you see tomorrow.

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by joycenalex
i've spent many holidays working, retail, and then the hospital. i'm an x ray technologist, and this was usually a busy day through the er and the inhouse patients. the EMTs, paramedics, fire and police, city services, they all do it 24/7/365. please thank any you see tomorrow.

oh man,
you brought up some memories.....
one of the saddest things is working the swing shift (3:30 to mid), in the hospital on new years eve (xmas eve is worse).........you are waiting by the time clock to punch out at 12.......it's like, Happy New Year! as you walk by the other poor souls that are showing up for work.....

x ray people are worth gold on those evenings.....you get so many accidents it's not funny!

thank you j and a!!!:)

[joycenalex]

...x ray people are worth gold on those evenings.....you get so many accidents it's not funny! thank you j and a
richard, i can't totally accept your thanks, i finally accumulated enough senority and moved to the off site clinic side, now i work a 10-6 shift, with only occasional weekends. my hospital, grant medical center has the level one trauma unit in columbus, and is downtown, that means all the staff for anything is there 24/7. the hospital is 1/2 mile from where the fireworks were. last night was our fireworks celebration, it's ohios' bicentenial celebration of joining the union, and columbus is the state capitol, the fireworks were longer. the hospital was more then fully staffed and ready. and i watched the fireworks from my sofa, with my dogs with the air conditioner on. :D .

[aly]

Whoops, the dogs and I just got back from a big shopping spree at Petsmart :o

It was actually fun and happy. Everyone was in a good mood because of the holiday and it was really crowded. Reece and Lolly wore their patriotic bandanas.

No matter what I do to stock up, I ALWAYS forget something and am thankful I can go to the store :o

I'm not arguing with your opinion Karen. I dont quite know how I feel about the stores being open :confused: Guess I never thought about it like that before.

[Twisterdog]

I have to work today. In fact, I have to work 365 days per year, every year, every day. If I didn't work, then dozens of families could not go on trips and vacations, because they would have no one to take care of their pets. I own a boarding kennel.

When I used to work in retail, they would give us a choice and let us sign up for working holidays. We were never forced. And, without fail, there were always more people wanting to work the holiday than there were shifts available. A holiday which also fell on a weekend was sometimes double our regular pay rate! I didn't mind working holidays, because you only work eight hours, at the most. You can always have your family celebration or whatever you choose to do during the other sixteen hours of the holiday.

I'm personally always thrilled and grateful to find a store open on a holiday. Not that I want to spend all day on the Fourth of July or Thanksgiving shopping for new shoes or anything ... but invariably I need something. I'll invite 30 people over for a BBQ and one of the dogs will get on the kitchen counter and eat all the hamburger buns an hour before we're supposed to eat. Or I'll be soooo sure I have a dozen eggs in the carton when I get ready to make pies Thanksgiving morning ... and my son will have scrambled ten of them for a snack the night before. Thank goodness some stores are open on holidays, for people like me! :)

[CathyBogart]

Hmmm, I'm in Chico right now and most places are closed today and tomorrow. ^_^ We did go out shopping, but a lot of places weren't open. Also, the guy I'm staying with would have gotten 2 1/2 times normal pay if he'd worked!

[micki76]

I worked in retail for several years in my twenties and I never once balked at working on any holiday. The $ I was paid more than made up for a BBQ with family or friends. After all, I don't need a holiday to enjoy them or to remember veterans or celebrate July 4th, we can get together anytime.
JMO

[IttyBittyKitty]

I've worked in customer service for a long time, and working public holidays is the norm.

In my current role, our customers are based in another state, so we often have to work the holidays that are state or city based only. I've no complaints ... I get 3.5 x my normal pay!!!

:D

I do agree with Karen though - I think it is crass commercialism to have so many stores open on the day! Here in Australia, the only stores open on holidays are supermarkets and corner stores. For some holidays the major department stores and other chain stores are open too.

[kittens]

well I ended up going to a mall, to get to the movie theatre... and it was almost empty! and I got to thinking, it is kind of sad that more isn't made out of the holiday! that stores don't close!