Things to Do in July During a Pandemic

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]July Sparks celebrations for Independence Days in countries of Canada, United States of America and France; Reggae Day in Jamaica and Nelson Mandela Day worldwide. It’s usually the month of Fireworks, Parades, Music, Festivals and Picnics. Many of these events are going virtual due to the global pandemic. Still plenty to be happy about and get Socialy Sparked® in July. Here are highlights of things to do around the world:[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”THINGS TO DO IN JULY” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]July Sparks Celebrations for Independence DaysINTERNATIONAL REGGAE DAY – July 1 is recognized as International Reggae Day. A 24-hour celebration for reggae culture and its influence on Jamaican music, the day is hosted in Kingston, Jamaica. The objective is to celebrate the best of Jamaican creativity and its worldwide impact using the power of music, media and communication technology to unite nations. The backstory — International Reggae Day was inspired by Winnie Mandela during her official visit to Jamaica in July 1991 with her husband Nelson Mandela after his release from prison. Mrs. Mandela spoke of Reggae’s power through the works of Marley, Tosh, Cliff and others, to inspire South Africa’s people in the face of the oppressive Apartheid regime. A day to recognize the power of this art form seemed appropriate to Andrea Davis of Jamaica Arts Holdings and Reggae Day was launched on July 1, 1994.

July celebrations sparks

#IRD2020

#IRD2020 theme is #FromJamrock2HipHop. This year’s celebration places a spotlight on a major chapter in Jamaica’s music legacy.  IRD will salute some of the legendary Game Changers in Jamaican music and in Hip Hop and explore the genesis of the connections made, beginning in the 1970s, through to the continued relationship, fusions and present day collaborations between the two genres, both global cultural phenomena.

Tune in to the IRD2020 website for 24 Hours of non-stop programming anchored in the cultural mecca of Kingston, Jamaica. Kick off time – 12 midnight Jamaica time.

DJ Kool Herc, Biggie Smalls, Heavy D, Busta Rhymes, Supercat, Shinehead, Pepa Denton (Salt n Pepa), Shinehead, Fugees, Beenie Man, Bounty Killa and Damain Marley will be recognized during the broadcast and saluted as IRD 2020 Game Changers.

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July Sparks Celebrations for Independence Days

Canada celebrates its 151st Anniversary July 1

CANADA DAY (French: Fête du Canada)

– July 1 is the national day of Canada, which celebrates its 153rd anniversary this year. The first of July marks the federal statutory holiday commemorating the July 1, 1867 enactment of the British North America Act, 1867 (now know as the Constitution Act, 1867). The Constitution Act 1867 united three colonies into a single country called Canada within the British Empire. The holiday was renamed in 1982 from Dominian Day (French: Le Jour de la Confédération) to Canada Day. Observances take place June 30th thru July 1st throughout Canada as well as among Canadians internationally. Check local governments or countries websites for all festivities.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

July sparks celebrations for Independence Days

Fourth of July marks Independence Day in the USA

INDEPENDENCE DAY/FOURTH of JULY (USA) – July 4th is national Independence Day in the United States of America. A federal holiday celebrating the country’s freedom from the British Empire Rule and the adoption of the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776) by the Continental Congress — declaring that the 13 American colonies regard themselves as a new nation –The United States of America — and no longer part of the British Empire. The 13 Colonies were a group of British colonies on the east coast of North America founded in the 17th and 18th centuries that declared independence in 1776 and formed the United States of America. The 13 colonies included: Province of New Hampshire; Province of Massachusetts Bay; Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations; Connecticut Colony; Province of New York; Province of New Jersey; Province of Pennsylvania; Delaware Colony; Province of Maryland; Colony of Virginia; Province of North Carolina; Province of South Carolina, and Province of Georgia.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”JULY SPARKS ” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

“…all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” – The Excerpt from the Declaration of Independence

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Festivities, fireworks, parades, picnics and speeches are normally abundant on July 4th across the United States. This year’s celebrations will pivot to accommodate social distancing, quarantine and various phases of reopening per state. Two of the largest fireworks display are in the nation’s capital of Washington, DC and in New York City.

America’s National Independence Day Parade & Fireworks Display normally takes place annually on July 4th in Washington, D.C., on Constitution Avenue before hundreds of thousands of spectators.

The 2020 National Independence Day Parade has been canceled. Following a recent meeting between the National Park Service and the Department of Interior, it was determined that local leadership are projecting that COVID-19 infection levels will not be abated to the degree that it would be safe or prudent to conduct the July 4, 2020, National Independence Day Parade. The parade promises to return in 2021.

July sparks celebrations

photo credit: Arnie Goodman

MACY’s 4th of JULY FIREWORKS REIMAGINED The nation’s largest fireworks display takes place in New York City. “Together, we celebrate the strength of the American spirit in New York City and across the country.” To allow New Yorkers to experience this year’s Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks safely without creating crowds, the annual spectacle was reimagined as a series of smaller unannounced displays in every borough of New York City. The July 4th Fireworks Display will be broadcast live on NBC from 8pm-10pm ET/PT or 7pm-9pm CT/MT.

In addition to the pyrotechnic splendor, the 4th of July’s entertainment special will feature

This year’s musical score will feature a mix of pop and patriotic anthems celebrating New York City’s resilience during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Produced in partnership with Hollywood Scoring, the musical score will include a special salute to America’s frontline workers, who have served our city and country tirelessly during this time.

For fireworks and parade celebration in your city, state or town, check your local chamber of commerce or local government’s websites.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]WORLD POPULATION DAY – July 11th is a day that focuses attention on the urgency and importance of population issues. In 1989, the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Program recommended that July 11th be observed by the international community as World Population Day. According to the UN Population Fund (UNPF), access to safe, voluntary family planning is a human right. It’s also central to gender equality and women’s empowerment, and is a key factor in reducing poverty. Yet around the world, some 214 million women in developing countries who want to avoid pregnancy aren’t using safe and effective family planning methods, for a variety of reasons. Many of those with an unmet demand for contraceptives live in the poorest countries on earth.

This year’s World Population Day aims to raise awareness about the sexual and reproductive health needs and vulnerabilities of women and girls during the pandemic, to highlight how we can safeguard hard fought gains and ensure that SRHR stays on the local agenda, and to explore how to maintain the momentum towards achieving the SDGs by 2030 that we rallied at the Nairobi Summit.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

July sparks celebrations for independence days

Bastille Day, juillet de quatorze

BASTILLE DAY (France) – July 14th is the national Independence Day in France. Also known as le quatorze de juillet, France’s national holiday dates back to 1880. Under the rule of Louis XVI in 1789 the royal fortress of Bastille — a symbol of despotism — was attacked. The tide of patriotic fervour led to the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. “Men are born free and remain free and equal in rights.” Originally called “Fête de la Fédération in 1790, le quatorze juillet celebrations became less popular under Napoleon. In 1880 July 14 was adopted as a national holiday and is celebrated annually — with the exception of the two world wars.

France will not hold it’s traditional Bastille Day military parade in 2020 due to social distancing norms, replacing it with a ceremony to pay tribute to health workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic. This year will see a much smaller ceremony at the Place de la Concorde, where the parade normally ends.

Nelson Mandela Day

Nelson Mandela. Photo: South Africa The Good News

NELSON MANDELA INTERNATIONAL DAY – JULY 18 each year celebrates Nelson Mandela International Day to spotlight the legacy of a great statesman, a fierce advocate for equality and the founding father of peace in South Africa. Nelson Mandela’s fierce determination and passionate advocacy for human rights and fundamental freedoms changed the 20th century and helped shape the 21st. His was a vision of humanity as one, of women and men united around their essential dignity, brought together by their shared aspirations for a better world. In times of turbulence, Nelson Mandela shows us the power of resisting oppression, of justice over inequality, of dignity over humiliation, of forgiveness over hatred.

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” Nelson Mandela

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”5980″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Where ever you are in the world this July, you can find a reason to celebrate and are guaranteed to be Socially Sparked. — We are forever Socially Sparked! Tweet @sosparkednews.

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