Roll out the red, white and blue goodies for a patriotic Independence Day this year. The Fourth of July is a day of celebration for the freedoms that have been secured through the blood and sweat of our brave armed forces, many of whom have sacrificed their lives for our freedom. It’s a great time to salute the flag and sing patriotic songs. It’s also a great day to be with our families, relax and enjoy a colorful meal prepared in the spirit of this great American holiday.
Meaning of red, white and blue
The combination of red, white and blue offers a powerful message behind our great country, which was founded as “one nation under God.” The most logical explanation for the colors of the American flag is that it was modeled after the first unofficial American flag, the Grand Union Flag, according to Wikipedia. In turn the Grand Union Flag was probably designed using the colors of Great Britain’s Union Jack. The colors of the Great Seal are the same as the colors in the American flag.
To attribute meaning to these colors, Charles Thomson, who helped design the Great Seal, reported to Congress, “White signifies purity and innocence. Red hardiness and valor, and blue… signifies vigilance, perseverance and justice.”
These colors also symbolize courage, authority and freedom and the energy that Americans have carried since the day our first flag hung outside of George Washington’s headquarters in 1776. The rashness of red displays strength and courage, and combined with white, it symbolizes detached authority. Followed by the deep navy blue, the three colors together convey a “united we stand” in trust and truth message.
According to color psychologists, red gives orders instead of taking them. Red is in charge and a source of power. White can be seen as clean and pure, but it also can mean alone and isolated. It stands neutral against the power of red. The deep blue assists in calming things down and symbolizes trustworthiness and honesty. It conveys calm authority.
Colorful goodies
You can put some Independence Day sparkle in your menu with patriotic red, white and blue goodies. No patriotic celebration would be complete without a flag cake (see recipe). For a popping Fourth of July entree, make wraps to resemble firecrackers and serve them with fiery hot salsa.
Other festive ideas:
• Cut sugar cookies with a star cutter before baking. Frost them with vanilla icing, and then top the star cookies with multi-colored cake-decorating sprinkles
• Bake lemon bar cookies in a rectangular pan. Spread on white frosting, and then decorate it to form one flag by using giant red hot candies for the red stripes and small blueberries to form the stars.
• Top vanilla ice cream with red and blue sprinkles
• Make cherry or blue Kool-Aid punch drinks
• Tint milk with blue food coloring for the boys, and red for the girls
• Make vanilla shakes tinted blue or red with food coloring
