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There are two dates Americans celebrate more than Christmas and Easter: Thanksgiving day which is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November and Independence Day which is celebrated on July 4th and represents the birth of the United States of America, which celebrate this year their 24th birthday.
It was July 4, 1776 when the Thirteen Colonies -New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia-decided to end the regime of ambitions by the British Empire by signing the declaration of independence. The text was written by Thomas Jefferson and signed by 56 delegates from the various colonies. Actually, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson signed the Declaration two days earlier, but was officially ratified on July 4, 1776, and George Washington, commander-in-chief of the Continental Army throughout the American War of Independence, became the first President of the United States in 1789.
Ironically, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe, respectively the second, third and fifth chronological president died on July 4th, while the thirtieth white house tenant was born on July 4th: Calvin Coolidge. The Declaration of Independence was signed on 4 July 1776 in Philadelphia at the time the largest city of the thirteen colonies and since then apostrophized The Cradle of Liberty. The document is still preserved in the National Archives of Washington.
It was signed by John Hancock and it seems that his signature was so convoluted and complex that even nowadays it is not unusual to say ironically “put me a John Hancock at the bottom of the page”, intended as signature.
Massachusetts was in 1781 the first state to recognize July 4 as a national holiday, while the term Independence Day was first used in 1791.
The emblem of freedom, always kept in Philadelphia where there is even an educational path that leads to the various places of interest, is undoubtedly the Liberty Bell. A 300-year-old bell near the Independence Hall, which features a solemn biblical record: “Throughout the Land unto the Inhabitants” Thereof Lev. XXV. -Procludes freedom on the whole earth and its inhabitants.- The bell because of its age caused the big crack to no longer be played but only delicately jingled for 13 times on the 4th of July.
In America, the sense of patriotism is very felt and it is normal to observe American flags (which are subject to strict rules and stricter if placed in the garden instead of at home) waving far and wide accompanied by horns, bands and so on. The Star-Spangled Banner “, the American flag, was also born in Philadelphia by Betsy Ross, a lady with golden hands. It is very fascinating to visit her house open to the public and see the history of the flag over time. But despite being part of the history, given the sacredness of the American flag, this has a date of its own festivities, June 14: Flag Day.
Nevertheless, if for thanksgiving day there is a particular traditional menu, on July 4th we celebrate with the American dishes par excellence: hot dogs – with real races to whom eats more -, Hamburger, chicken wings, french fries and sauces
And among fireworks everywhere, on land, in the squares or next to the sea with such an opulence to dwarf Times Square on New Year’s Eve, it is not unusual to find yourself eating a BBQ in company of a stranger who on the 4 July can also become your best friend.
