10 Unknown Facts about 4th July

Hey! All you Americans, raise a toast as it calls for a celebration. It’s the 243rd year tradition since Independence. The fireworks are sure to boost up your spirit of the day but make sure you are safe and secure while setting the mood for this special day. With pomp and glitter all around, let’s shift a bit and share you something about 4th July that might give you more reasons to celebrate.

1. The sign was not done on 4th July

Remember the iconic painting where the Founding Fathers are seen signing the very first draft of the declaration document. It is said that the entire event took place in Philadelphia but the famous Historian David McCullough cleared the misconception and confirmed that never such an incident took place in Philadelphia. 4th July was the date chosen by John Adams to declare it as Independence Day. To make it clearer and get the date and facts straight, there were 54 men who signed the document but only two named John Hancock and Charles Thomson among the political committee members who signed the official document on 2nd August.

2. The day could have been 2nd July

Debates and disapprovals are nothing new. Same went for fixing the date. The men in the community had a hard to zero upon a date that would be adopted and celebrated henceforth as the day of Independence for Americans. Initially, the Congress decided upon the day 4th July when they asked all the existing members to be on board to felicitate the day with their presence. But the unavailability of all the members on that given day did not make it possible. After that, John Adams decided that 2nd July will be fixed as The Date. This day had a special significance in the history of America and Adams believed that this would be the perfect day for America to celebrate their Independence Day. 2nd July was the date when the vote of Independence took place.

3. It wasn’t an official holiday from the very first day

You might be lucky to get the day off from the daily chore and celebrate it to your heart’s will. But the calendar didn’t say it. In 1776, Adams gave a letter to his wife where he suggested that this day should be celebrated with utmost glory and pomp. It must be a day to remember for the rest of the year. Though the celebrations began the next year it wasn’t until 1870 when the day was declared as a federal holiday. For the federal employees, the day was not counted amongst their paid holidays. Since 1941, the employees are getting the day as a paid holiday.

4. George Washington treated this day as a Gala

It was during the Revolutionary War days in 1778 when Washington ensured that the day is celebrated. On this day, he gave a double ration of rum to let his soldiers enjoy in their own way. He made sure that the day is given the desired respect that it demands. He gave orders of canon salute in order to pay respect and homage to the great day America. He added up a new tradition where the enjoyment just doubled up. Drinking, being an important part of the celebration the tradition was to raise and gulp 13 toasts in the name of the 13 states of the Union.

5. It’s not only happiness on 4th July

Call it a bizarre coincidence or the game of fate, but the 50th year of Independence was not happy for the founding fathers. 1826 was the year when the US stood still over the celebrations. Surprisingly, both the founding fathers expired on the same day. Jefferson was the one who passed away first. Adams while on his deathbed was not aware of the death of Jefferson. His last words were “Jefferson still survives”. It was a shocking moment for all as both the Fathers passed away in a gap of 5 hours on the 50th Independence. On the same day in 1831, the third US president named James Monroe passed away.

6. 4th July was lucky for some

4th July is a day to remember. Be it in grief or joy. While there were the shocking deaths of the fathers, on one hand, US got its 30th President on this day. Till date, Calvin Coolidge happens to be the one and only President who was born on this day. President Obama of the US got a big news on 4th July as the day happens to be the birth date of his dear daughter Malia. Other than this reality star Mike Sorrentino, author Nathaniel Hawthorne and gangster Meyer Lansky were also born on this day.

7. The firework ceremony is as old as Independence

Though the day was not officially declared as a holiday the enjoyment through lighting up fireworks is prevalent since the beginning. The tradition has not stooped though there are several numbers of accidents reported due to the firework every year.

8. Not just America, but Philadelphia too

The celebrations are same as in America, as the Philadelphia was the first place that began the firework celebration. This has two reasons. One, that the day is also the Independence Day of Philadelphia. Second, that in 1977 this city of Commons was chosen as the place of celebration.

9. The Celebration does not end in US and Philippines

Denmark, Portugal, Norway, England, and Sweden are also joining every year in this celebration. The craze of the day is such that none can stay out of it. The other reason might be that each year they want to attract the American tourists through this celebration.

10. Hot Dog Day it is

Celebrations are incomplete without food and when it's hot dogs, Americans just can’t say no. Apparently, it has been found out that Americans on this day consume 150 million hot dogs. Isn’t that huge? So why not declare this is as the Hot Dog Day too! Because, it’s always the more the merrier in the United States.