Fourth of July Story Gives Us a Reason to Celebrate

July 4th is a very important holiday here in the United States and a welcome break for all of us in the heat of summer. Our families at Manhattan Resources are planning a long Fourth of July weekend. For that reason, we will be closed July 4-5 allowing all of our employees to enjoy a well-deserved break and celebrate our nation.

You are probably finalizing your Fourth of July plans right about now, too. Maybe you’re headed to a picnic with fireworks, or taking your family to a parade to mark this patriotic occasion. But do you know why we celebrate these July 4th traditions?

Few people do. However, each holiday tends to have a special meaning in our nation’s history. Take a look at just a few of the reasons we toast the July 4th, and how some of us celebrate across America.

The Importance of July 4th — The Date

Think the birth of America took place on July 4, 1776? Well, it’s not quite so simple.

According to James Heintze’s book The Fourth of July Encyclopedia, John Adams predicted we might celebrate our nation on a different day: “The 2nd day of July 1776 will be the most memorable in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival,” our future President of the United States wrote.

While the Continental Congress voted for independence on July 2, copies of the declaration weren’t circulated for two days — which is why we celebrate Independence Day on the fourth of July. In 1941, Congress finally made the date an official national holiday.

Fourth of July Fireworks

Lighting up the sky with fireworks was first given the go-ahead in 1777. That was just one year after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. According to the American Pyrotechnics Association, 14,000 fireworks displays take place on the Fourth each year. Because of this enthusiasm, fireworks bring in about $930 million in sales in the United States alone. For instance, major displays take place each year on the Capitol lawn in Washington, D.C., Chicago over Lake Michigan, and in San Diego over Mission Bay.

Independence Day Foods

Today we have picnics and barbecues on Independence Day. These overflow with traditional summertime foods like hamburgers, hot dogs, salads, drinks, and more. It seems the spirit of excess has always been a July 4th tradition. General George Washington, for instance, handed out double rations of rum to his troops during the American Revolution to celebrate. The spirit of overindulging is still on display today. For example, during Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest in New York. At this event, participants try to consume as many franks as possible in just 10 minutes.

The Parades on the Fourth

Often held in the morning to make room for fireworks in the evening, parades are a long-standing tradition. In fact, they take place across the country and in many major cities, including Washington, D.C. For example, this one begins on Constitution Avenue, featuring big floats, a marching band, and tons of balloons. Early in our nation’s history, these events were about publicly displaying loyalty to the United States over the British Empire.

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