Back on July fourth 1776 the United Sates declared itself Independent from England thus each year on this day we celebrate that Independence with family BBQ’s and fireworks, of course. Though through all the hoopla with fireworks and such it seem more and more the real importance of today gets lost. So… history lesson! Right, well just remember to keep in mind when your out eating a hamburger or steak right off the grill whilst watching fireworks fill the night sky that our forefathers sacrificed a lot so that we can be here today, a free country.

So now the history lesson. The signing of the Deceleration of Independence didn’t actually take place on July 4th, rather it was on July 2nd but it wasn’t approved by congress until today, July 4th. Thus why we celebrate today and not on the 2nd. On July 3rd, 1776 John Adams wrote the following to his wife:

“The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”

And how about a little history on the observance of Independence Day throughout the years:

- In 1777, thirteen gunshots were fired, 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 July 4 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, the Massachusetts General Court became the first state legislature to recognize July 4 as a state celebration.
- In 1783, Moravians in Salem, North Carolina, held a celebration of July 4 with a challenging music program assembled by Johann Friedrich Peter. This work was titled “The Psalm of Joy”.
- In 1791 the first recorded use of the name “Independence Day” occurred.
- In 1870, the U.S. Congress made Independence Day an unpaid holiday for federal employees.
- In 1938, Congress changed Independence Day to a paid federal holiday.

So everyone be sure to have a safe and meaningful Fourth this year, and maybe even let slip some of these interesting facts about today in conversation with others, so we can all remember the true nature of today’s holiday.