Michigan’s Fourth of July Once Included Greased Pig Races

In today's Michigan, the 4th of July is all about beaches, BBQs, boats, beverages, and big booms. While all of these are about as Pure Michigan as you can get, there's part of me that wonders what happened to some of our more social and physically demanding traditions—three-legged race, anyone? Anyone?

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Michigan’s Forgotten 4th of July Games

Taking a deep dive into early 4th of July traditions, a surprising entry caught my attention. The National Endowment for the Humanities notes that a celebrated Midwestern tradition involved greasing up a pig and chasing it.

While chasing a greased pig isn't explicitly illegal in Michigan, it would likely fall under the state's laws regarding animal cruelty. In today's world, such a practice would be vigorously frowned upon and more than likely protested.

So instead, we have hot dog eating contests...

History reports that George Washington ordered double rations of rum for his soldiers in 1778. That's a tradition we've continued. According to MikMak.com, the Fourth of July is one of the most profitable days for alcohol sales in Michigan and America.

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Other classic, pre-Civil War Independence Day traditions included a public reading of the Declaration of Independence, which was organized by individual cities and townships throughout Michigan.

The Wild 4th of July Traditions Across the Midwest

Other communities around the Midwest would hold races that would be outwardly canceled today. Hayti, Missouri, had a "Fat Man's Race" in 1919 with the winner receiving cigars.

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While we still have parades, we don't see lavishly decorated floats held together by chicken wire, glue, duct tape, and hope (they weren't up to OSHA standards). Nor are three-legged or sack races in general a tradition anymore.

Michigan’s Modern 4th of July Traditions

I'm all in for the fireworks, the food hot off the grill, the sting of OFF when it gets in your eyes, and pondering whether or not to eat the questionably warm potato salad. Still, I wonder what it would be like to live in a Michigan where the worst 4th of July injuries were burlap burns instead of fireworks mishaps.