Every summer, Americans celebrate the anniversary of our nation's birth on July 4, 1776. That's when the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, the revolutionary document in which the thirteen colonies announced they were free from British rule.
But bet you didn't know, some people actually think we should celebrate it on July second, not the fourth. That was the day the delegates actually voted on the declaration. They just didn't have it done until the July fourth.
Ready for some more Fourth of July facts?
Philadelphia's famous Liberty Bell was actually not rung on July 4th, 1776. Its big moment came four days later on July eighth to honor the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence.
Three of our presidents, all among our founding fathers, died on Independence day. On July 4th, 1826, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died, just hours apart from each other. In addition, five years later on July 4th, 1831, James Monroe passed away.
From the beginning, American marked the birth of independence with parades, speeches, music, and public readings of the Declaration of Independence. Artillery salutes, a key feature of the earliest Independence Day celebrations, went out of fashion as cannons fell out of use in the late 19th century. But there's one early tradition that hasn't gone out of style... fireworks.
Congress first authorized pyrotechnics as part of Fourth of July celebrations way back in 1777. Today, more than 14,000 firework displays go off on Independence Day. The largest of these is the Macy's Fourth of July Spectacular in New York City. Some 75,000 pounds of fireworks go off during the roughly one-and-a-half-hour show which is attended by more than 2,000,000 people, and since 1941, most Americans have gotten to enjoy a little relaxation with their fireworks. Congress made Independence Day a federal, legal holiday that year.
Bet you didn't know, Independence Day is among one of the only four federal holidays, along with New Years Day, Veterans' Day, and Christmas, that is celebrated on the same day each year!
