Fête...Festive...Festliche......

July - Juillet - Juli.....A month which brings a couple of festive days, on opposite sides of the world, and I suppose people already know what everybody does on these events, but here's a little piece just to remind you!
Starting with the other side of the world because it comes up first, on the 4th July....."The United States of America"....as I understand it, they mainly just call it "The fourth of July" which has the advantage of making sure nobody forgets the date!
I've never been there on the 4th July, so I don't know if every body gets dressed up like this... or if everybody gets more or less undressed like this..........probably a mixture of both.
What I do know is that they all eat too much again!...
Now this one idea surprised and interested me. Makes a change from Hamburgers and hot dogs, ketchup and Coke....but I wonder how many are actually going to eat this!
(You can click to enlarge)


I was intrigued because it seems there's stuff from all over the world, and although the USA is Cosmopolitan, they don't tend to have "kangaroo tail soup" hopping about - at least not so far as I am aware! "North Sea sole"...."Langouste"..."Filet Mignon with Provence sauce"...even the dreaded Communists get a place...."Hearts of lettuce with RUSSIAN dressing" (is that with caviar....?). Then I found out that this is a menu from Cruise Liners, ploughing through the Caribbean probably.  Well - I suppose that the residents of the Bronx or Manhatten or Long Island will just settle for a "Marguerite" and a BBQ....... 
That way they won't get seasick either!
Just in case some of them have other ideas, this is a menu for the 4th July in.....1900..! So get that down you! The little touch at the bottom of the page is nice. It says "turn over" - I don't know if they're telling the guests to do that before continuing, but with all that stuff in the stomach - it's certainly not an easy thing to do - "turn over".....I just hope the reverse side tells me all about the wines and drinkies....
In any case.....have a nice time........
and for afterwards, here is my suggestion:



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And on we go to the 14th July, otherwise known as "le quatorze Juillet"....and strictly French - revolting French even....!
and ....guess what - most people eat....
A BBQ.....!
First they watch the mighty forces marching...well, the Tourists do anyway! Others get back into History and involve themselves with stranger things, as an appetizer so to speak.......
Then it's down to business, and the REAL knives come out, together with the Pastis. Imagine, even the Americans get involved, although they've just recovered fro 10 days earlier!



Anything to excuse a party!
The serious stuff is in France all the same, and even the local canteens get into it...This is from the menu of a local council, from a local "traiteur" -  specially for Bastille Day:
..and the best of luck to you!
In any case, wherever you celebrate, have a nice time......
......and this is still my solution for the morning after......