We’ve already established that May is National BBQ Month. But, according to some, so is July. We suppose bbq is so delicious the celebration of its tastiness can’t be contained in one month. Regardless, Independence Day Barbecue is a time-honored tradition, so whether you celebrate barbeque now or in May, barbecue is probably an essential part of your celebration this summer.

Independence Day Barbecue & Other Traditions

The 4th of July is a holiday that celebrates the USA’s independence from Great Britain in 1776. So what does that have to do with barbecue and fireworks? 

Where Did Independence Day Barbecues Come From?

Patriots celebrated independence with feasts from nearly the earliest days of the Republic, but barbecue specifically became popular a little later, in the post-Civil War era. 

Large smoked meat-centric gatherings made sense as a way to bring communities together. The smell would attract anyone! However, it was also a way to feed large amounts quickly without preparing individual dishes. 

Home and backyard Independence Day barbecues are a relatively modern invention that emerged after grills became widely available and commercials made them popular. 

What About Fireworks?

Fireworks are associated with the Fourth of July, namely because they were a way people celebrated lots of things back in 1777 and before when the celebration of Independence Day began.

Fireworks or “illuminations” had been a part of royal pageantry long before the US started to use it for everyday people.

Unfortunately, today, fireworks may be a bit too everyday as nearly anyone can get their hands on them, sometimes leading to problems in local communities like fires, injury, and trauma for some people with PTSD, young children, and pets. 

Did you know that more pets are lost on the 4th of July than on any other day of the year? They get scared and run away, get hurt, or worse. 

Remember to be responsible with your celebrations this year!

Barbecue Pitfalls

While we’re fans of a backyard barbecue as much as anyone, the problem with them is that someone has to be the grill master. While that may be fun, it also means one individual has to miss out on other festivities. 

In addition, backyard barbecues have higher heat, so the meat cooks faster, meaning the home chef must be careful not to overcook and dry out the meat!

Additionally, smoking large hunks of meat can be more challenging on a smaller grill, so many home grillers opt for burgers and hot dogs.

If you’re looking for a little something more, you’ll need to invest in a home smoker and some high-quality cuts of meat. That’s great for smoking and grilling connoisseurs, but if you only break it out once a year for your Independence Day barbeque, it doesn’t make a lot of sense. 

Not only is there the economy of buying a once-a-year appliance but there’s also the difficulty of reacquainting yourself with it and the maintenance routine.

We Got You

You probably see where we’re going with this.

If you love Independence Day Barbecue for the food but not the hassle, there’s a simple solution. No law says you need to grill the meat yourself or go to someone’s home that does!

Trust the ‘cue experts at Due South. 

We smoke all our meats in the house, so you don’t have to! We also have many delicious sides to add to your meal that you can’t make on the grill.

Come and order in or get takeout for the whole backyard barbecue experience (minus the cleanup, of course)!

We hope you have a fabulous 4th of July! And we’d be happy to be a part of it.