When it comes to July 4th, it’s the perfect day to celebrate our freedom with our favorite festivities. The tradition of celebrating this patriotic holiday became more widely known after the War of 1812. It later became a federal holiday in 1870 and has remained a symbol of our patriotism ever since.
The first organized 4th of July celebration was in 1977. It consisted of armed ships lining the river displaying red white and blue streamers. Each ship did a 13 gun salute in honor of the 13 colonies. There was a luxurious dinner that ended with fireworks and rockets. After this celebration, fireworks became more available to all areas which started a tradition of putting on a firework display in each city.
Fireworks have become the main focus when you think of July 4th–and some of our favorite shows that we’ve seen have been put on by military bases! Celebrations often include live music, inflatables and food trucks. This is a great way to find a community on base around the holiday and enjoy the 4th of July surrounded by families.
Not only is Independence Day normally celebrated with fireworks, but also outdoor festivals, BBQ’s, and parades. Local parades and festivals usually consist of pie and hot dog eating contests, marching in presidential costumes, and waving the American flag to our national anthem. This is also an opportunity to support local fire stations, service clubs and scouts.
This holiday is the perfect time for families to come together, enjoy a summer evening, and even share some yummy side dishes with those hot dogs. Our family likes to wear fun coordinating red white and blue outfits and take pictures while waiting for fireworks to start. We also enjoy burning sparklers and throwing pop kits with the kids! These are traditions that we look forward to each summer.
Fun July 4th Facts:
– New York City has the largest firework show in the US
– Massachusetts was the first state to declare the 4th of July a state holiday in 1781
– Americans spend more than 1 million dollars on fireworks each year
– Over 150 million hotdogs are eaten each 4th of July in the US