4th of July

The 4th of July, also known as Independence Day, is a celebration of the United States Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. This site will provide background information about the 4th of July, its history, and major celebrations.

4th of July - Overview
On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress as an official way to declare the United States’ independence from Great Britain. Every year in the United States, we still celebrate that independence with parades, festivals, barbecues, fireworks and picnics. Since the fourth of July is a federal holiday a lot of people are off work that day and celebrations start in the early morning and go until late at night when the fireworks begin.

Generally regarded as America’s birthday, July 4, has been a federally recognized holiday since 1870 and federal workers started receiving holiday pay in 1941 for Independence Day.

Independence Day is celebrated in every city and town in the United States in much the same way. Whether at home with the family or on the west lawn of the Capitol building among thousands of other Americans, we celebrate our independence from Britain and we celebrate the freedoms we enjoy today because of all the brave souls who came before us who risked their lives and the many who paid with their lives in order that we may enjoy enduring freedom. Children and their parents alike look forward to the excitement that accompanies the fourth of July and its festivities.

Although the Fourth of July is one of the most entertaining holidays we celebrate, it is also the most sober with the music and the fireworks reminding us why we are celebrating.

The colors of the day are red, white and blue from T-shirts to shorts and sandals, hats and umbrellas. Although most Americans respect the guidelines set forth in regards to the flag not being worn as an item of clothing, Americans do like to dress in the patriotic colors on America’s birthday. Further, a favorite pastime is to watch the red, white, and blue fireworks bursting in the late night sky on the Fourth of July.

Celebrations
Most cities across America have a day-long celebration with a parade, food booths, bands, games and contests. The celebration usually ends with a street dance and fireworks display put on by the city. Many families, after the fourth of July parades, have family gatherings, picnics, barbeques and parties. On the fourth of July there is much fun to be had by everyone.

A Capitol Fourth is the annual celebration in Washington DC celebrating our nation’s birthday. The concert is the most watched PBS special showcasing the singing, dancing and dramatic readings with more than a half of a million people from all over the country in attendance. With the Star Spangled Banner playing and the flags blowing in the breeze, teary eyed Americans feast their eyes of the Statue of Freedom atop the Capitol building.

July 4, 1976 marked the nation’s bicentennial and churches and people all across the United States rang bells at exactly 2 PM, which was the time of the approval of the Declaration of Independence.

July 4, 2002 marked the most security conscious ever Fourth of July in the history of the United States after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Some parades carried items from the rubble of the World Trade Center and Shanksville, PA had its first ever Fourth of July parade.

You can celebrate the Fourth of July at George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate in Virginia if you choose. There they have an annual celebration and reenactments of famous Washington moments in history. George Washington’s contributions to America’s independence are celebrated annually at the Mount Vernon estate.

George Washington might well have been one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence if he had not been busy on the battlefield.

Although thousands upon thousands of people visit famous sites to celebrate the Fourth of July, there are many more thousands quietly or maybe not so quietly celebrating at home with their loved ones. Almost every small town has some kind of festival and the larger cities have incredible celebratory events as well. Family after family cooks outside on the grill on the Fourth of July while inside flag cakes and star cookies bake. Some families watch broadcasts on television, just so they can see the fourth of July fireworks.

Parades
The first Fourth of July parade took place on the Potomac River with president John Quincy Adams leading a boat procession up the river. Since then, the Fourth of July parade in Washington DC has gone through some changes but is still one of the most exciting parades in the country even though it takes place on dry land.

Over 300,000 spectators are expected to be present for America’s 2006 Independence parade on Constitution Avenue. There will be representatives from all over the United States taking part in the parade. There will be at least 18 marching bands, 15 floats and many other units.

In Boston a small parade visits the Granary burial grounds where some New England members of the Revolution were buried as a tribute to those who fought for our freedom. In the evening, more than 300,000 people gather to hear the sound of the Boston Pops Orchestra.

Parades have long been a celebration in the United States. Whenever there is a parade, the streets are lined with people long before the parade commences. Often, the people in the parade throw candy to the crowd especially to the children. Small children are often hoisted up on the shoulders of their parents so that they may see better.

Fourth of July parades often include a float with people dressed up to look like the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Often, there are contests for best float in the annual parades. People work for weeks to make theirs the best. The very elaborate parades are televised and last for an hour or more.

Sometimes, the names or pictures of those who lost their lives fighting for our freedom are carried in a parade. Essentially, the fourth of July parades are a way to celebrate America’s independence, and it is also a way to reveal the patriotic nature of America’s inhabitants.

Food
Millions of red, white and blue tablecloths, paper plates, cups and napkins are sold each year to be used in Fourth of July celebrations. Cakes decorated like flags are made by the hundreds or thousands and can be found in any Fourth of July celebration.

Barbecue grills become the kitchens for the day as people all over American cook out on the Fourth of July. Hot dogs, hamburgers, brisket, ribs and corn on the cob are popular grill choices for picnics all over the country on the Fourth of July.

According to the United States’ Census Bureau, 150 million hot dogs are expected to be consumed by Americans on July 4th. Grocery stores across the country routinely put hot dogs, hamburger meat, beans, bread and almost anything you can think of for a Fourth of July picnic on sale.

Sometimes cakes are auctioned off to raise money for charity and at some of the festivals they hold a cake walk so participants can have the chance to win a beautiful cake. Along with cakes, one can’t forget applie pie; an American favorite that is extremely popular on the fourth of July.

Watermelon is a popular favorite at Fourth of July picnics and some festivals hold watermelon eating contests on this holiday.

Many of the small to mid-size towns block off several blocks of their downtown area to hold their Fourth of July celebration and independent food booths line the streets.

Ice cream is another popular favorite on the Fourth of July. Industrious vendors will have vanilla, strawberry and another flavor dyed blue in order to present red, white and blue ice cream. Cotton candy in the patriotic colors delights children and adults alike.

Fireworks
Even though fireworks have been banned in the city limits of cities across the United States, it doesn’t stop individuals from setting off fireworks. Most cities sponsor a city-wide fireworks display, spending thousands and thousands of dollars each year just for the fireworks. Red, white and blue skyrockets light up the night sky often accompanied by patriotic music.

Unfortunately, there are almost 13,000 fireworks victims each year in the United States. Despite the warnings and the bans, people continue to use them and give them to their children. Of the total number of injuries by fireworks each year, more than half of those are children.

Firemen are kept busy every fourth of July by careless people setting off fireworks in a place prone to catch fire. It is imperative that people use the safest measures possible when using fireworks on the fourth of July. Some states have outlawed the use of fireworks on the fourth of July, as well as other holidays because of the injuries that occur.

In 2004, the United States imported $172.5 million dollars worth of fireworks and exported only $14.3 million dollars in fireworks.

Interestingly enough, the very first Fourth of July celebration in 1777 included fireworks. In 1786, the courthouse in Beaufort, NC burned down because of an artillery shell used in the fireworks celebration.

There were those in Philadelphia who weren’t happy about our independence from Britain. While most were celebrating by putting a lit candle in their windows, those loyal to Britain kept their windows dark. This was their way of letting the patriots know where they stood. It wasn’t long before fireworks replaced the candles as celebratory fare.

Today, the fireworks presentations all across the United States get grander every year with the sky lit up with the red, white and blue of fireworks synchronized to music that appear to reach down and touch the observer. No one who is present at such an event cannot help but feel patriotic after a day of parades, music, speeches and fireworks.

Patriotism
Even though people don T-shirts with red, white and blue ornamentation on the Fourth of July, Americans are a patriotic people all year round. Some decorate their homes with red, white and blue pillows and rugs and various home décor items. You can find the patriotic theme in just about anything for the home.

Patriotism décor reaches far beyond the home. Wireless phones, computers and other gadgets have patriotic themes such as a flag for a background or stars and stripes. There have been many couples throughout America’s rich history that were married on the Fourth of July with all the flowers and food having a patriotic theme.

The playing of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture," accompanied by live cannons, has become a July 4th tradition at our nation’s capital birthday bash for America. There is not a dry eye in the crowd as the cannons are fired reminding all of us how precious our freedom is.

The freedoms we enjoy as Americans are often taken for granted yet we are reminded on the Fourth of July that because of the bravery of our forefathers we have the freedom to vote, worship as we believe without fear of recriminations, free speech, the freedom to pray and dozens of other freedoms that we sometimes forget about until they are threatened.

In Lititz, Pennsylvania, every year on the Fourth of July a Festival of Candles is held where the children of Lititz light hundreds of candles that have been made by the townspeople the previous winter.

Children are taught at a young age about freedom and how precious it is to us. Children study about wars in school and learn all about the bravery of the men and women throughout history who have fought for our freedom. They put on skits at school and sing songs and say the Pledge of Allegiance with their hands crossed over their chests while they look at the flag.

Declaration of Independence
John Hancock was the most famous signer of the Declaration of Independence. Even today, it is a common expression when one person wants another person to sign something for them to say, “Give me your John Hancock,” or “Put your John Hancock right here.” There were 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence, among them two future presidents, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams.

At the time the Declaration of Independence was signed, America was comprised of only thirteen colonies. Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence and it was adopted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania July 4, 1776.

That was perhaps the costliest “adoption” in American History. Although it took a few months for all 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence to affix their signatures to the document, the mere declaration set in motion a bloody war that had to be fought before we could enjoy the fruits of that declaration.

There have been conflicting reports about what eventually happened to the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence. Some accounts report every horrible thing that ever happened to any of them and attribute that event to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Other accounts profess the success of many of the brave men who stood up to fight for the freedom we still enjoy today. All accounts agree with the fact that these men suffered terrible financial loss due to their bravery.

Although most of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were in their 30s or 40s, the youngest was 26 and the oldest, Benjamin Franklin was 70. They were Delegates to Congress and some were last minute replacements for those who, for reasons of their own, opposed independence from Britain.

Flags
The Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act in 1777 which prescribed the 13 stars to represent the thirteen colonies. There were many Flag Acts passed after that as new states were added to the union but it wasn’t until 1912 that the proportion of the flag as well as the order of the stars was set.

It was through a presidential proclamation in 1970 that the flag began to be flown 24 hours a day at the White House.

There are strict guidelines in many areas regarding the flag of the United States of America. For example, it should never be used as clothing, draperies or any kind of bedding. There are certain ways to display it and certain ways to fold it. When a flag has become deteriorated enough so as to be unfit for further use, it is supposed to be burned.

Francis Scott Key was so happy at seeing the flag that he penned “The Star Spangled Banner.” Our National Anthem has always been sung in conjunction with the flag, whether the flag is physically present or not.

Flags abound at Fourth of July parades all across America. Children wave miniature flags as the marching band parades by them. Children in the United States are taught at a very young age the importance of our flag.

Flagpole sitting got started in Baltimore, Maryland in the 1920s. A man named Shipwreck Kelly is said to be the flag sitting champion of the 1920s. He once boasted he had sat on flagpoles for 20,000 hours. In 2002 the world record was set by a man from Poland who spent 196 days sitting atop a platform on a flagpole.

Trivia
There are 11 places in the United States with Independence as part of its name. Independence, Missouri has the largest population with 112,079 residents.

It took until August 2, 1776 for the Declaration of Independence to be edited and prepared for the signatures of the 56 members of the Continental Congress to begin signing it. By the time it had been signed by all 56, Britain had taken New York and the Revolution was blazing!

It is said that John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress signed his name on the Declaration of Independence so big that King George would not need his glasses to read it.

After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, flags sold out in all stores that sold them within a few days. Workers affixed them to their computer monitors and cars. Flags were suddenly everywhere as the nation pulled together after this horrific attack.

The flags of both Alaska and Hawaii were both first flown on consecutive Independence Days, 1959 and 1960 respectively.

The Liberty Bell was rung on July 8, 1776 after the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. After that, it was rung on every Fourth of July until 1835.

The biggest fireworks display in the United States occurred in conjunction with the 100th birthday of Lady Liberty on July 4th, 1986

Three presidents, Adams, Jefferson and Monroe died on the Fourth of July. Two of them, Adams and Jefferson died on the same Fourth of July on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.


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