For the first several years of living abroad, I didn’t really think about the 4th of July much. It comes at a time of year when most are preoccupied with planning for summer and wrapping up tasks before said fun begins. Not to mention that in every other country, obviously, this holiday is not a thing at all. Germany has their Reunification Day on October 3rd, which could be considered the equivalent, yet has no traditions surrounding the day other than not going to work. No city fireworks, parades, or grill outs. Side note: because of WWII, Germany has been forced to be very careful about showing patriotism lest it be taken the wrong way.

Before living abroad, I played an Independence Day concert or two each year as a college music student, enjoying the happy-go-lucky atmosphere and feeling tired, happy and relieved when we reached the Stars and Stripes forever – this meant my embouchure lasted through all of those marches, film music, classical overtures, and cabaret numbers. I also was thankful when my hands didn’t slip off of my instrument too often from sweating in the heat of these outdoor venues. As a child, we listened to these concerts at the park in town, enjoyed a root beer float afterwards with family friends, and celebrated the day with grilling and picnic food outside on our homemade picnic table. Maybe some croquet or badminton was thrown into the mix too. Good times and warm family memories!

Jump ahead about 5-10 years – I am living in Germany and sometimes even barely remembered that it was the 4th of July! How could I not remember the day, something that had been part of my life for 23+ years and defines who I am to everyone I meet (to the tune of where are you from?)??

To be honest I’m not entirely sure. Part of it was just being busy and since it’s not in the news here and no one else here even knows what July 4th is (besides a date…I have to say Independence Day to clear up blank looks), it’s easy to breeze past. However, the holiday definitely has more meaning the longer I am here, the older I get, and because of having started a family myself. My children will not grow up with parades and fireworks, despite being native speakers and American citizens, a fact that kinda makes me sad. Which leads me to what the 4th of July means to me as an American living abroad:

Celebrating American Heritage

This means being thankful, respectful, and appreciating American culture, freedoms, lifestyle, history, and whatever you define as “American”. In other words, defining and celebrating what sets the US apart from other countries and what makes it special. America has many positive sides, which need not be overlooked.

Upholding 4th of July Traditions

By this, not only family traditions but regional and possibly even nationwide ones. Grilling and eating baked beans and jello salad. Spending time together as a family. Enjoying time outside. Watching fireworks (limited to online here and lighting our sparklers in the backyard). Our kids are half American, so it’s good they know how to traditionally celebrate the 4th and understand how this part of their family spends the holiday. It’s also important for me personally to share my own traditions and integrate them into our multi-cultural family.

Remembering America’s Past

This holiday automatically presents the best opportunity to teach our kids (and my German husband!) about America’s past, how it came into being,  and how it came to be what it is today. I’m not sure right now how much our kids will learn at school here, so we can easily use the holiday as an opportunity to fill in the gaps in their knowledge. This is not only important as nationals, but also for anyone to know seeing America’s large role in the world as we know it today.

Staying True to MY Roots

Some may say living abroad is not being very patriotic. I don’t see it as being quite so black and white. Based on job perspectives in my one field, things are a bit more positive here than in the States. This was also only one of two reasons for moving here, the other being interested in just spending a little bit more time in Germany to see what it was like.  My reason for staying now is my young family. This being said, my roots, my childhood experiences, my culture, my language, my traditions, my side of “our” family, etc etc etc are American. A pure fact. To remain true to myself, where I came from, who I am, and what I “know” means remembering everything that happened to make me and my past (thus my present and future) possible! Celebrating the 4th helps me stay connected to my roots and reminds my where I am from, which includes many traditions and traits that are All-American. Now that I have children, they can also learn and celebrate their American roots on this holiday.

Marrying Integration and Tradition

I would like especially my kids to know that to me, integration does not mean giving up who you are! To me it means learning about and accepting your host country’s culture, acquiring parts of it and adjusting your day-to-day dealings with people while also maintaining your own culture and traditions. Nothing here about forcing anything on anyone, or the other extreme of giving up everything.  You are who you are no matter where you live, maybe just a variation thereof. I believe it is possible to combine both worlds to a large extent and would like my children and our family to exemplify a happy marriage of both cultures living side-by-side.

So as an American expat living abroad, the 4th of July definitely does not go unnoticed and is part of our family tradition each year now too. On this Independence Day, I wish you all wonderful festivities and time spent with family and friends! Enjoy all that is America and eat some pistachio fluff for me (impossible to get or make here)!!! 😀