Patriotic 4th of July Bunting

Bunting: Iconic Patriotic Decoration

Picture a gazebo where a marching band plays patriotic music. It's a wholesome scene, maybe from the 1940s or 1950s. Young kids run by, balloons in hand, while adults chat and eat hot dogs. That fabric you're probably picturing hanging from the gazebo? That's called bunting and it's been around much longer than you have.

Bunting can be just about any shape, but the most common is the repeating half-circle shape. Pillar bunting is also popular and impactful, particularly when accompanied by a message.

The History of Bunting

There's no solid understanding of when bunting first appeared. Bunting ¿ or things very similar to bunting ¿ is said to have existed in the early 1600s and, according to some historians, evolved from flags flown on ships at sea.

Since the fabric was flown at sea, it had to be durable so as not to be ruined by the sea air. That's why most bunting nowadays is made with a durable fabric ¿ yet "bunting" can be made from any fabric or can even be made from non-fabric materials like plastic, cardstock or cardboard.

Bunting's storied past is one of the reasons why vintage-look bunting is so popular. This type of bunting is particularly popular as outdoor Americana decoration.

Hooray for the U.S.A.

There are plenty of good reasons why bunting is used regularly for patriotic celebrations, like Fourth of July events or military functions.

1. Red, white and blue bunting featuring stars and stripes is decidedly patriotic, and is recognized by most people as a distinctly American look.
2. Bunting ¿ when purchased through Oriental Trading ¿ isn't too expensive and has a big impact visually.
3. U.S. Flag Code has many restrictions about the display of actual American flags, many of which many people frequently (and often, accidentally) break at patriotic celebrations. Bunting that looks like an American flag isn't subject to the same stringent standards.