While July is the heart of summer and half way through the year... it is also a month of celebrations! For me these celebrations have always meant celebrating my heritage....
It's no secret that I am Italian but I also have English decent in my genes as well. The 4th of July, or Independence Day, holds a special meaning to me in celebration as well. Not only because I am an American of course, but I am also a descendant of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. On my father's side I descend from one Thomas Stone of Maryland who was on the committee that drafted the Articles of Confederation and signed the Declaration of Independence, later also serving in Senate for Maryland.
Shortly after all of the picnics, parades and fireworks every year then comes the Mt. Carmel Festival and mass for Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, which I have posted about many times in the past as well. With both events in the same month and marking the halfway point for the year, July truly is a month for me to celebrate my heritage and all that my family and I are.
So as the fireworks reign this month, I will be celebrating my freedoms right along with a sort of Italian "new year" rejoicing another quiet year of the volcano. I will be waving flags this month for both sides of my heritage.
I will look at each day as a new beginning and each month as a clean slate, another chance at a new year. I will embrace the activities of each festivity this month and all they have to offer and represent.
July's Bucket List:
- Celebrate with fireworks several times.
- Enjoy gluttonous festival and picnic foods
- Remember where I come from.... celebrate heritage!
