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"Fourth of July" redirects here. For other uses, see 4th of July (disambiguation).
For the 1996 movie of the same name, see Independence Day (film)
Independence Day
Independence Day
Displays of fireworks, such as these over the Washington Monument, are an example of the celebrations that take place nationwide. Independence Day (also known by its promotional abbreviation ID4) is a 1996 Science fiction film about a hostile Alien invasion The Washington Monument is a large tall sand-colored Obelisk near the west end of the National Mall in Washington D
Also calledThe Fourth of July
The Glorious Fourth
The Fourth
Observed byUnited States
TypeNational
SignificanceThe day the Declaration of Independence was first adopted by the Continental Congress. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United States Declaration of Independence is a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4 1776 announcing that the thirteen American colonies then
DateJuly 4
CelebrationsFireworks, Family reunions, Concerts, Barbecues, Picnics, Parades, Baseball games
Celebration with fireworks over Miami, Florida, USA on American Independence Day. Bank of America Tower is also lit with the red, white and blue color scheme.
Celebration with fireworks over Miami, Florida, USA on American Independence Day. Events 836 - Pactum Sicardi, peace between the Principality of Benevento and the Duchy of Naples A firework is classified as a low explosive pyrotechnic device used primarily for aesthetic and entertainment purposes Often an annual event a family reunion takes place on a specified day each year for the purpose of keeping an Extended family closer together A concert is a live Performance, usually of Music, before an Audience. barbeque block party Kansas cityjpg|thumb|right|275px|A barbecue on a trailer at a Block party in Kansas City. In contemporary usage picnic can be defined simply as a pleasure excursion at which a Meal is eaten outdoors ( Al fresco or En plein air A parade (also called march or marchpast) is a procession of people usually organized along a street often in Costume, and often accompanied by Fire Baseball is a Bat-and-ball Sport played between two teams of nine players each A firework is classified as a low explosive pyrotechnic device used primarily for aesthetic and entertainment purposes Bank of America Tower is also lit with the red, white and blue color scheme. The Bank of America Tower at International Place (formerly the CenTrust Tower; more commonly known as simply Bank of America Tower) is a 47-story landmark In Color theory, a color scheme is the choice of Colors used in Design for a range of media

In the United States, Independence Day (commonly known as the Fourth of July) is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the In the United States, a federal holiday is a Holiday recognized by the United States Government. The United States Declaration of Independence is a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4 1776 announcing that the thirteen American colonies then Events 836 - Pactum Sicardi, peace between the Principality of Benevento and the Duchy of Naples Year 1776 ( MDCCLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a The Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a State in northwest Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1800

Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, picnics, baseball games, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States, but is often also viewed as simply a summer festival, apart from its patriotic overtones. A firework is classified as a low explosive pyrotechnic device used primarily for aesthetic and entertainment purposes A parade (also called march or marchpast) is a procession of people usually organized along a street often in Costume, and often accompanied by Fire barbeque block party Kansas cityjpg|thumb|right|275px|A barbecue on a trailer at a Block party in Kansas City. Carnival is a festival season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February and March In contemporary usage picnic can be defined simply as a pleasure excursion at which a Meal is eaten outdoors ( Al fresco or En plein air Baseball is a Bat-and-ball Sport played between two teams of nine players each

Contents

Observance

Customs

Originally entitled Yankee Doodle, this is one of several versions of a scene painted by A. M. Willard that came to be known as The Spirit of '76. Often imitated (or parodied), it is a familiar symbol of American patriotism.
Originally entitled Yankee Doodle, this is one of several versions of a scene painted by A. M. Willard that came to be known as The Spirit of '76. " Yankee Doodle " is a well-known US song, often sung Patriotically today Archibald MacNeal Willard ( August 22, 1836 – October 11, 1918) was an American painter who was born and raised in Often imitated (or parodied), it is a familiar symbol of American patriotism.

Independence Day, the only holiday that celebrates the United States, is a national holiday marked by patriotic displays. The National Day is a designated date on which celebrations mark the Nationhood of a Nation or non-sovereign Country. Patriotism is commonly defined as love of and/or devotion to one's country Similar to other summer-themed events, Fourth of July celebrations often take place outdoors. Independence Day is a federal holiday, so all non-essential federal institutions (like the postal service and federal courts) are closed on that day. The United States federal courts are the system of Courts organized under the Constitution and laws of the Federal government of the United States Many politicians make it a point on this day to appear at a public event to praise the nation's heritage, laws, history, society, and people. A politician (from Greek " Polis " is an individual who is involved in influencing public decision making through the influence of Politics or a person

Families often celebrate the Fourth of July with a picnic or barbecue, and take advantage of the day off and in some years, long weekend to gather with relatives. Decorations (e. g. , streamers, balloons, and clothing) are generally colored red, white, and blue, the colors of the American flag. A balloon is a flexible bag filled with a type of Gas, such as Helium, Hydrogen, Nitrous oxide or air. Clothing (also called clothes, accoutrements, accouterments, or habiliments) protects the Human body from extreme Weather Flags of the United States The Flag of the United States of America consists of 13 equal horizontal stripes of Red (top and bottom alternating Parades often are in the morning, while fireworks displays occur in the evening at such places as parks, fairgrounds, or town squares.

Independence Day fireworks are often accompanied by patriotic songs such as the national anthem ("The Star-Spangled Banner"), "God Bless America", "America the Beautiful", "My Country, 'Tis of Thee", "This Land Is Your Land", "Stars and Stripes Forever", and, regionally, "Yankee Doodle" in northeastern states and "Dixie" in southern states. A firework is classified as a low explosive pyrotechnic device used primarily for aesthetic and entertainment purposes A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history traditions and struggles of its people recognized either by a nation's " The Star-Spangled Banner " is the National anthem of the United States of America " God Bless America " is an American Patriotic song " America the Beautiful " is an American Patriotic song. " My Country 'Tis of Thee " also known as " America " is an American Patriotic song, whose lyrics were written by Samuel Francis " This Land Is Your Land " is one of the United States ' most famous folk songs. " Stars and Stripes Forever " is a patriotic American march widely considered to be the Magnum opus of composer John Philip Sousa. " Yankee Doodle " is a well-known US song, often sung Patriotically today " Dixie " also known as " I Wish I Was in Dixie " " Dixie's Land " and other titles is a popular American song. Some of the lyrics recall images of the Revolutionary War or the War of 1812. In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" The War of 1812 was fought between the United States of America and the British Empire, particularly Great Britain and her North American colonies While the "1812 Overture" refers to Russia's defeat of Napoleon, it has been traditionally used by the Boston Pops and broadcast nationwide on PBS, so that many Americans also associate this musical work with the Fourth. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky wrote the Festival Overture "The Year 1812" in E major, Op The Boston Pops Orchestra was founded in 1885 as a subsection of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO founded four years earlier The Public Broadcasting Service ( PBS) is a Non-profit Public broadcasting Television service with 354 member TV stations in the

Firework shows are held in many states, and many fireworks are sold for personal use or as an alternative to a public show. Safety concerns have led some states to ban fireworks or limit the sizes and types allowed. Illicit traffic transfers many fireworks from less restrictive states. Smuggling, also known as trafficking, is the clandestine transportation of goods or persons past a point where prohibited such as out of a building into a Prison

Most fireworks shows in the United States end in an intense finale, with a volley of fireworks launched in quick succession, sometimes simultaneously. Major displays are held in New York on the East River, in Chicago on Lake Michigan, Boston on the Charles River, and on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. During the annual Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival, Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario host one of the world's largest fireworks displays, over the Detroit River, to celebrate both American Independence Day and Canada Day. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous The East River is a tidal Strait in New York City. It connects Upper New York Bay on its south end to Long Island Sound on its north end Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America, and the only one located entirely within the United States. The National Mall is an open-area National park in Downtown Washington D Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D International River Days a five day festival along the International Riverfront marked the 2007 opening of the River Walk along the east river leading up to the International Michigan ( is a Midwestern state of the United States of America. Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and lies at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City-Windsor Corridor. Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec The Detroit River is a river in the Great Lakes system about 32 miles (51 km long and 0 Canada Day (Fête du Canada formerly Dominion Day, is Canada 's national day, a federal statutory holiday, celebrating the anniversary of the

When the holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, although nearly all corporate businesses and government functions remain open, many people take off an extra day to make for a four-day summer weekend. This is less common when the holiday falls on a Wednesday (as occurred in 2007), although business activity for the week as a whole tends to slow down as some people extend it into a week-long vacation. When the holiday falls on a Sunday, many (but not all) people have off on Monday, in lieu of the holiday. Some businesses close on Friday when the holiday falls on Saturday, although that is not as common (some close on Monday, but that is even less common), during these years many people only receive a two day weekend.

Other events

See also

In Boston, a fireworks show is held over the Charles River Esplanade with the Boston Pops playing in the background

References

  1. ^ Fourth of July Celebrations Database. 1776 is a Broadway musical with music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and a book by Peter Stone. Constitution Day (or Citizenship Day) is an American federal observance that recognizes the ratification of the United States Constitution and The Charles River is a small relatively short River in Massachusetts, USA, that separates Boston from Cambridge and The Boston Pops Orchestra was founded in 1885 as a subsection of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO founded four years earlier Retrieved on 2007-06-04. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 781 BC - The first historic Solar eclipse is recorded in China.

External links

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