Independence Day (United States)

In the United States, Independence Day (commonly known as "the Fourth of July" or "July Fourth") is a federal holiday celebrating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. While 4th of July is celebrated as the day of independence, the United States got independent officially only after the war of independence, on September 3, 1783^[1], when british king George III and US leaders signed the Treaty of Paris.^[2]

Independence Day is commonly associated with parades, barbecues, beer, picnics, baseball games, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Fireworks have been associated with the Fourth of July since 1777.

Observance

• In 1777, British officers fired 13 guns, once at morning and again as evening fell, on July 4 in Bristol, Rhode Island. Philadelphia celebrated the first anniversary in a manner a modern American would find quite familiar: an official dinner for the Continental Congress, toasts, 13-gun salutes, speeches, prayers, music, parades, troop reviews and fireworks. Ships were decked with red, white and blue bunting.
• In 1778, General George Washington marked the Fourth of July with a double ration of rum for his soldiers and an artillery salute. Across the Atlantic Ocean, ambassadors John Adams and Benjamin Franklin held a dinner for their fellow Americans in Paris, France.
• In 1779, July 4 fell on a Sunday. The holiday was celebrated on Monday July 5.
• In 1781, Massachusetts was the first legislature to recognize the Fourth of July.
• In 1783, Moravians in Salem, North Carolina held the first celebration of the Fourth of July in the country with a challenging music program assembled by Johann Friedrich Peter. This work was titled the Psalm of Joy.
• In 1791, First recorded under "Independence Day" name.^[3]
• In 1870, the U.S. Congress made Independence Day a holiday, albeit unpaid, for federal employees.[1]

Customs

Independence Day, the only holiday that celebrates the United States, is a national holiday marked by patriotic displays. Similar to other summer-themed events, Fourth of July celebrations often take place outdoors. Independence Day is a federal holiday, so all non-essential federal institutions (like the U.S. Postal Service and federal courts) are closed on that day. Many politicians make it a point on this day to appear at a public event to praise the nation's heritage, society and people. Speeches and editorials may invoke Revolutionary War themes such as the founding fathers (including John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and George Washington), the Constitution, the Liberty Bell, and democratic principles such as liberty, freedom, equality under the law, inalienable rights, and representative government.

Families often mark the Fourth of July with a picnic or barbecue, and take advantage of the long weekend or off-day to gather with relatives. Decorations (e.g., streamers, balloons, and clothing) generally are colored red, white, and blue due to the colors of the American Flag. Parades are often held in the morning, baseball games played (July 4th being nearly halfway into the baseball season), and fireworks displays in public parks in the evening. Other traditions include face painting for children and tossing of a football or frisbee.

Fireworks

Independence Day fireworks are often accompanied by a pops orchestra playing patriotic songs such as "The Star-Spangled Banner", "God Bless America", "America the Beautiful", "My Country, Tis of Thee", "This Land Is Your Land", and "Stars and Stripes Forever". Some of the lyrics recall images of the Revolutionary War or the War of 1812. While the "1812 Overture" refers to Russia's defeat of Napoleon, it has been traditionally used by the Boston Pops and broadcast nationwide on PBS, so many Americans also associate this musical work with the July 4th fireworks.

"The Star-Spangled Banner", the USA's national anthem, commemorates the United States flag that was visible by the light of the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air. This view of the flag through a night of bomb bursts inspired the captive Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812, and provided hope for the United States as it defended Fort McHenry.

Firework shows are held in many states, and many fireworks are sold for personal use or as an alternative to a public show. Safety concerns have led some states to ban fireworks or limit the sizes and types allowed. Illicit traffic transfers many firecrackers from less restrictive states, showing that the American people have nevertheless found a way to celebrate "with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations."

Most fireworks shows in the United States end in an intense finale, with a volley of fireworks rapidly launched almost simultaneously. Major displays are held in New York and Boston harbors and on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario also host one of the largest fireworks displays in the world over the Detroit River each year to celebrate both American Independence Day and Canada Day during the Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival.

Picnics and barbecues

Outdoor barbecues and picnics are easy to prepare for the large number of people that often gather on the Fourth of July. Barbecues generally involve hamburgers and hot dogs.

The picnics are generally held in parks while waiting for fireworks, or at the beach. They do not involve cooking meats, but sandwiches such as peanut butter and jelly and tuna salad. Picnics were traditionally carried in a picnic basket, although coolers are more common now.

Beverages for these outdoor events generally include 2-liters of soda, chilled with ice and served in cups. Alcoholic beverages include beer or kegs - participants may be asked to bring their own ("BYOB"). If beverages are drunk directly from the can, a stubby holder may be used. Traditional side dishes for a picnic or barbecue include potato salad, potato chips, vegetable tray, jello salad, and perhaps baked beans or corn on the cob.

Guests at barbecues and picnics may sit at a picnic table or some other outdoor furniture. Picnics in a park (especially where fireworks are held) often feature a blanket or towel set on the ground for participants to sit on.

Other notable Independence Day events

• America's Freedom Festival at Provo is one of the largest freedom festivals. It includes one of the largest Fourth of July parades, and the Stadium of Fire.
• James River Assembly in Ozark, Missouri, hosts the annual "I Love America" Celebration at the Springfield Underground. In 1997, 13,000 people showed up for the first event. In 2006, 120,000 people attended the celebration. Highlights include the choir's "Living Flag", the "Concert in the Sky", nearly 100 games and activities, and a four-hour air show.
• A colorful Independence Day event is the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City, which supposedly started on July 4, 1916, as a way to settle a dispute among four immigrants as to who was the most patriotic. It was estimated that Americans would consume about 150 million hot dogs on July 4, 2006, or almost one hot dog for every other person in the United States.^[4]
• The town of Bristol, Rhode Island is noted for having the oldest, continuous Independence Day celebration in the United States.
• Minor League Baseball and Major League Baseball games are also played on Independence Day. Since 1959, NASCAR has held the Pepsi 400 on July 4 or the Saturday of Independence Day weekend.
• Both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, two founding fathers of the U.S., and the only two men to sign the Declaration of Independence to become President died on the same day: July 4 1826, which was the United States' 50th anniversary.
• In 2006, the first Space Shuttle launch on Independence Day occurred at 2:37:55 EDT for mission STS-121 using the Space Shuttle Discovery.
• Lititz, Pennsylvania has the longest continuous-running celebration of Independence Day, which has been a town tradition since 1813. This celebration routinely shuts down most of the town to traffic, due to the large volume of tourists and former Lititz residents who return for the Queen of Candles pageant and the yearly fireworks gala.
• Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the United States, was born on July 4, 1872

See also

• Declaration of Independence of the United States
• Founding Fathers of the United States
• The legality of state separation through a declaration of independence.
• 1776 (musical)
• Born on the Fourth of July the best selling autobiography of Marine, anti-war activist, and self described patriot Ron Kovic.

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