It's the morning of Independence Day in USA. As I watch bicycles cycle by, I dread tonight's inevitable displays of fireworks. Of course they won't start until darkness pervades, when I'm ready to go to bed. This will be at 9pm in my area. (The sun will set here at 8:29pm 1). However, in the northern-most places, sunset may occur 90 minutes later 2, at 10pm. Imagine waiting until 10:30pm for fireworks! Or worse, trying to get a good night's sleep for an early appointment the next day.
Then there's the issue of moonlight. A full moon can detract from the intensity of a fireworks display.
Therefore I propose moving Independence Day to the day of the first New Moon in January. Yes, let's celebrate the Fourth of July in January!
This year the New Moon occurred on January 29, and the sun set here at 5:00pm.3 So you might go to see fireworks, go out for dinner and then go to bed at the decent hour of 9:00pm!
Even in the southern-most part of the US, sunset occurred at about 6:00pm on January 29 4, making a 6:30pm fireworks display a nice convenience.
The added benefit is that we'll have something to look forward to right after Christmas!
1 https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/usa/springfield-ma?month=7&year=2025
2 https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/@5689178?month=7&year=2025
3 https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/usa/springfield-ma?month=1&year=2025
4 https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/usa/key-west?month=1&year=2025
