July 4th: Independence Day
July 4th marks Independence Day in America, celebrating the day that the Declaration of Independence was adopted.
On this day, over two hundred years ago, representatives from the original thirteen colonies that made up America met to declare their independence from Britain. But how much do you know about this patriotic celebration? Test your knowledge with these 10 fun trivia facts to find out!
1. The Declaration of Independence was not signed on July 4th.
The Declaration of Independence was actually signed on August 2nd, 1776— nearly a month later! The motion to approve it was voted on and passed on July 2nd, and it was later published on July 4th. This led to celebration among the people when they had read the news.
2. Independence Day was supposed to be on July 2nd.
John Adams believed that Independence Day would take place on July 2nd, not July 4th. It is even said that he refused to celebrate on the 4th because he held firmly to his belief that it should have been on the 2nd.
3. Independence Day wasn’t always celebrated on the 4th!
Independence Day was once celebrated on the 5th of July instead. Since the July 4th was on a Sunday in 1779, it was celebrated on the following Monday.
4. Independence Day didn’t become a federal holiday until 1870.
Following the War of 1812, printed copies of the Declaration began to circulate again, stirring the interest of the populace in the history of the young nation. The celebration became increasingly more popular until it was officially made a federal holiday in 1870, with additional legislation passed in 1939 and 1941.
5. Not all of the signers of the Declaration were men!
Some copies of the Declaration of Independence have a woman’s signature on it! Mary Katharine Goddard’s name was added to the document by its printer and publisher after she was hired by Congress to print copies of it.
6. The official flag of the USA was chosen in 1960.
The current flag of the United States of America was a design submitted by a 16-year-old as a school assignment in 1958. His design was given a B-minus at school, but when he sent his flag to Washington D.C. to be considered by President Eisenhower, his flag was selected, and it became the official flag in 1960.
7. Setting off fireworks for the 4th dates back to 1777!
On July 4th, 1777, a ship’s cannon fired a 13-gun salute in honor of the 13 colonies. Even papers like The Pennsylvania Evening Post reported the event, remarking that “at night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks (which began and concluded with thirteen rockets) on the Commons, and the city was beautifully illuminated.”
8. Americans spend over $1 billion on fireworks every 4th of July!
Nearly 16,000 firework displays that take place every year. In a letter to his wife, John Adams wrote that he wanted Independence Day to be celebrated with parade, shows, and “illuminations,” and it’s no surprise that fireworks became so popular!
9. The national anthem of the USA, “The Star Spangled Banner,” wasn’t official until 1931.
It gained special significance during the Civil War, a time when many Americans turned to music to express their feelings for the flag and the ideals and values it represented. By the 1890s, the military had adopted the song for ceremonial purposes, requiring it to be played at the raising and lowering of the colors. Today, it is one of the most recognizable songs in our country.
10. Americans eat around 150 million hot dogs each Independence Day!
While you can’t go wrong with hot dogs, lemonade, corn-on-the-cob, and s’mores, we have a great turkey burger recipe you can get here! Smokey chipotle ketchup helps give this delicious meal a bit of a kick with a hint of earthy spiciness. This dish is sure to become a 4th-of-July favorite!
How many of these did you know? Did any surprise you? Let us know in the comments!