Fourth Of July: All You Need To Know About America's Independence Day

Fourth Of July, 2023, will mark the 247th anniversary of the founding of the United States (US). It is a federal holiday in the US since 1941. Every year, parades, fireworks, carnivals, fairs, political speeches and numerous ceremonies mark this day. Americans also wear red, white and blue gear.

In 1776, on this day, American colonies gained independence from British rule. The Declaration states, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Origin of Independence Day:

Though the American colonies gained independence on July 4, 1776, the process began two days ago, on July 2, 1776, when the Continental Congress voted to declare independence. On that day, 12 of the 13 American colonies officially decided to separate from British rule. Among those who pronounced the American colonies as free states included Thomas Jefferson, a renowned statesman and diplomat at that time, who later became the third President of America (1801-09), and Benjamin Franklin, a political philosopher.

Fireworks And More:

In 1801, for the first time, the July 4 celebrations were held at the White House. Since then, it's become an annual feature.

The tradition of fireworks started in Philadelphia city a year after the American colonies gained independence from British rule. To commemorate a year of independence, fireworks were set off on July 4, 1777, when a salute of 13 gunshots was conducted. Since then, staging grand fireworks has become a ritual of the July 4 celebrations. Also, on July 3, 1776, a day before the Declaration of Independence was signed, John Adams, one of the founding fathers, had written to his wife, Abigail Adams, that the day must be commemorated "with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."

Has a President Ever Refused to Celebrate?

All presidents, except Adam, have celebrated the American Independence Day.

Adams refused to celebrate the holiday because he felt July 2 was the real Independence Day.