“Americana” is a broad term of art often tied to aspects of American culture and history, and sometimes deeply nostalgic and reflective of the associations we make to the times of our lives.
Reflecting on the many ways people enjoy celebrating the Independence Day holiday, we began to imagine what an ideal "Summer Americana" might look like. A wide variety of sentiments and associations resonated with each of us as we listed what came to mind when hearing those words, “Summer Americana.” Most ideas fell neatly into one or more universal summer themes, but paring down the list to reflect a single ideal vision of a Summer Americana was impossible. Each person's vision was highly personal, sentimental, and reflective of their own life experiences. Nevertheless, we want to share those main themes here. And because the July 4th holiday set this blog in motion, it seemed fitting to start by sharing the list of fireworks that we thought fit within our collective notions of an ideal Summer Americana:
Fireworks
- Sparklers
- Firecrackers
- Caps, snaps, or poppers
- Black Snakes
- Fountains
- Zodiacs
- Roman candles
- Bottle rockets
- Strobes
- Whistlers
- Duds (no fireworks display is complete without the occasional dud)
Summer fun
A Summer Americana would not be complete without mentioning these quintessential summertime activities:
- Bike riding
- Camping
- Vintage camping trailers (airstream, teardrop, pop-up, canned ham)
- Beach trips
- Pool parties
- Day trips
- Water sprinkler fun
- Street fairs
- Sidewalk sales
- Baseball games
- Parades
- Barbecues and cookouts
- Classic car shows
- Summer vacations
Architecture
Here are a few favorites that resonated, architecturally speaking:
- Barber shops
- Old barns
- Ice cream shops
- Diners
- Drive-in movie theaters
- Tree-lined neighborhoods
Art and History
These artists and historical concepts all felt symbolic to the idea of a Summer Americana:
- Norman Rockwell
- Georgia O'Keefe
- Rock n roll
- Elvis
- The Beach Boys
- The American Dream
- Mid-20th century life
- Little League
- Going to the movies
- Blockbusters
- The American flag
- The space race
- Suburban life
- Sidewalk chalk art
- Antique and vintage signs
Foods
No list can be complete without including a favorite American pastime -- sharing food with friends and family. Culturally, Americans enjoy a wide variety of foods, but these were some of our most universal Summer Americana choices:
- Watermelon
- Ice cream cones
- Fourth of July Apple pie
- Hot dogs
- Cheeseburger and fries
- Milkshakes
- Potato salad
- Baked beans
- Cherry pie
- Soda pop
- S'mores
What comes to mind when you think about your ideal Summer Americana? What images, traditions, or events spark your imagination? We are betting that each of you would have many more ideas to add to these lists as you think about what an ideal Summer Americana looks and feels like to you...
