Little did our forefathers know that, when they declared independence from the crown in 1776, they would lay the groundwork for a federal holiday that has become associated with beer, barbeque, and fireworks. Then again, maybe they knew precisely what they were doing. After all, it was freedom to live their life how they pleased that prompted their departure from the Kingdom of Great Britain, and that’s exactly what the day has come to symbolize. So if you want to spend the afternoon playing beer pong in your underwear while fighting the urge to shoot bottle rockets at the sun, you go right ahead and do so. That’s the beauty of freedom, after all.

The latest Google Doodle, which is positioned above, celebrates the Fourth of July by blending the stars and stripes with lyrics from Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land”. A fitting tribute, I think.

John Adams was certainly a fan of Independence Day. And while his prediction was off by a handful of days, we’ll cut him some slack. I think he earned it. Anyway, have a look at what he told his wife in a letter about the celebration:

The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.

Since a lot of folks won’t be able to enjoy their fireworks due to the drought that’s currently wreaking havoc on a large section of the country, enjoy this selection of videos as an alternative. Some of them are funny, some of them are colorful, and some are kind of bizarre. Have a wonderful holiday, and for the love of God, be safe!