The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

FESTIVAL ON FIXED DATE

IN EDGEFIELD COUNTY, S.C., EVERY YEAR THE NEGROES CELEBRATE THE
FOURTH OF JULY WITH A CARNIVAL AND AN ALL DAY PINIC. THIS HAS
BEEN DONE FOR YEARS AND IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE NEGROES THAT WHITE
EMPLOYERS LET THEM OFF FOR THE DAY, EVEN IF IT'S THE ONLY
VACATION THE NEGRO WILL GET ALL YEAR. THE CELEBRATION IS KNOWN
AS "THE FOURTH" AND BY NO OTHER NAME.

Submitter comment: MOST OF THE NEGROES ARE UNAWARE OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FOURTH
OF JULY AS A NATIONAL HOLIDAY. THE TERM IS ONLY USED TO DENOTE
THE LOCATION OF THE CELEBRATION.

Data entry tech comment: SPELLING ERRORS WERE CORRECTED

Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; EDGEFIELD

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR