Holiday Gift Ideas & Traditions Blog

In school we are all taught about the importance of the Fourth of July and why we celebrate it.  America celebrates July 4 as Independence Day because it was on July 4, 1776, that members of the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, adopted the final draft of the Declaration of Independence.  Following its adoption, the Declaration was read to the public in various American cities. Whenever they heard it, patriots erupted in cheers and celebrations.  Today Americans celebrate that freedom and independence with barbecues, picnics, and family gatherings.  Here are some other interesting facts about Fourth of July celebrations and things surrounding this important day in history.

• The first American Flag was sewn by Betsy Ross in its traditional red, white and blue colors.
• In 1846 the Liberty Bell could not be rung anymore because of the famous crack.
•  The American Bald Eagle has been a national symbol of the USA since 1782.
•  Geographically, the United States is the world’s third largest country after Russia and Canada.
• The 13 stripes on the US flag represent the original colonies - the 50 stars represent the 50 states.
• The National Anthem of the United States is The Star-Spangled Banner
• Calvin Coolidge was the only president to be born on the Fourth Of July
• John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe all died on the Fourth of July,
• The parades, music and fireworks so closely linked with the America’s Fourth of July observances are actually common ways to celebrate independence. During the month of July, America, Canada, France and the Bahamas all observe their independence holidays with lively parades and music.

Many people hang flags in honor of this celebration, but did you know that the United States Flag Code stipulates that as the symbol of a living country, the flag is considered in itself a living thing and should be properly displayed and cared for. The code outlines the proper ways to display the American flag.  There are actually more than thirty rules and regulations as to where, how and when the flag should be displayed.  Here are just a few:

• Raise the flag briskly. Lower it ceremoniously.
• Never allow the flag to touch the ground or floor.
• Do not fly the flag in bad weather, unless it is an all-weather flag.
• The flag should always be allowed to fall free.
• The flag should never be used to carry, store, or deliver anything.
• Never fly the flag upside down except to signal an emergency.
• The flag can only be flown at night if properly illuminated. Otherwise, it should only be flown from sunrise to sunset.

John Adams wrote that the Fourth of July “…ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other…” And that’s what we do each year on the Fourth of July.

In 1776, the US population was 2.5 million colonists.  In late 2006, the US population surpassed 300 million people.

Fourth of July is synonymous with barbecue and this year Americans will consume around 150 million hot dogs on this holiday.  If you laid all those hot dogs end to end, they’d stretch all the way from Los Angeles California to Washington DC. Now that’s s lot of hot dogs!  It is estimated that more than 68 million Americans will take part in a barbecue sometime this year.

Americans love their 4th of July fireworks displays and waving the American flag.  Every year the US imports nearly $200 million worth of fireworks with over 90 percent coming from China.  Likewise, the US imports $5.5 million worth of American flags again with over 90 percent coming from China.  However when it comes to flags, the US makes most of them right here in the good ‘ole USA. American manufacturers shipped nearly $350 million of flags, banners and flag emblems last year.

Our US patriotism abounds in the names of our cities. Did you know that 30 cities have the word “Liberty” in them and 11 cities have the word “Independence” as part of their name?